Great matches at start of qualifying – three German youngsters in action

Great matches at start of qualifying - three German youngsters in action

13/04/2024

Excellent first day at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix as the first round of qualifying at the long-standing Stuttgart tournament on Sunday produced an exciting start. Three German youngsters battled for a place in the second and final round.

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The spectators enjoyed high-class tennis at the start of the 47th edition of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in qualifying on Courts 1 and 2. Special focus was on Anna Kalinskaya, the world No. 26, who faced German Carolina Kuhl in her opening match. Playing for the first time at this level, Kuhl gave her all but succumbed 6-1, 6-2 against her experienced opponent. In the second and final round of qualifying on Sunday, the top-seeded 25-year-old will now meet the experienced Italian Sara Errani who defeated Liechtenstein's Kathinka von Deichmann 6-2, 6-3.

In the first match of the day on Court 1, Ella Seidel (Germany) from the Porsche Talent Team faced the No. 4 seeded Frenchwoman Oceane Dodin. Despite a courageous performance, the 19-year-old was beaten 6-4, 6-1. In the qualifying finale, Dodin will now take on Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who narrowly overcame the Croatian Jana Fett 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). Germany's Nastasja Schunk, also a member of the Porsche Talent Team, was out of sorts against the American Sachia Vickery when losing 6-2, 6-3. Vickery will now be up against the Belgian Greet Minnen, who was a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 winner against Olivia Gadecki from Australia. Diana Shnaider and the Czech Sara Bejlek will also go head-to-head in the final round of qualifying.

Ella Seidel

Drawing of the tournament main draw at 1.00 pm

At stake on Sunday - play starts at 11 o'clock - are the four remaining berths in the tournament proper. The drawing of the main draw, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, will take place on Court 2 at 1 o'clock. Assisting the Operating Tournament Director Anke Huber will be the Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova.