KERBER AND WOZNIACKI EAGER TO GET STARTED: FRENCH OPEN SEMI-FINALISTS ANDREEVA, MARIA AND BADOSA IN ACTION ON SUNDAY

Great atmosphere and anticipation! Tournament ambassadors Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki have even more in common these days. The two former world number ones have known each other since childhood and are close friends – and the duo are eagerly awaiting their opening matches at the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt.

“I am just looking forward to the start. But I’m already very impressed with how the tournament is developing and how we’re getting better every year,” said Angelique Kerber, who will make her comeback at the Kurpark in 2023 after her maternity leave.

The three-time Grand Slam winner will face Diana Shnaider, ranked 49th in the WTA, in a left-hander on Monday at 16.00 (Eurosport, SKY and sportschau.de).

Wozniacki relishes the atmosphere – Svitolina invites her to the classic 

Angelique Kerber has, of course, already trained with Caroline Wozniacki, who is challenging last year’s Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina in a real first-round thriller, on Centre Court at the Bad Homburg casino this week. And played cards with the Dane in the Players Lounge.

On Saturday, they were both guests on the club balcony of the historic TC Bad Homburg. Angelique Kerber has long been familiar with the fantastic view from the first floor of the white jewellery box. But it was clear that the three-time Grand Slam winner was enjoying the view. “We have always said that we want to keep the boutique character of the tournament, even though we are now at 500. That is our trademark.

Earlier in the day, Caroline Wozniacki had raved about the atmosphere: “The conditions here are unbelievable. I want my kids to be here,” said the former Australian Open champion.

Top start on Sunday: Maria, Badosa and Paris semi-finalist Andreeva in the line-up 

Wild card holder Tatjana Maria will be in action on Sunday. The 2022 Wimbledon semi-finalist will play her opening match against qualifier Viktoriya Tomova (Bulgaria) at 4 p.m. (SKY, sportschau.de). The first appearance of shooting star Mirra Andreeva is eagerly awaited. The 17-year-old, seeded eighth in the upgraded WTA 500, reached the final round at Roland Garros and will play Dayana Yastremska (Ukraine) on Sunday at 12.00 noon. A highly in+telligent player, Andreeva is tipped by many pundits to be the next world number one. Following the teenager’s match, former world number two Paula Badosa of Spain will make her Kurpark debut on the centre court of the Bad Homburg casino against Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands.

Korpatsch, Niemeier and young Stusek fail to qualify

A German trio was unlucky at the start of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt on Saturday: Tamara Korpatsch lost 6-3, 0-6, 1-6 to last year’s Kurpark finalist Lucia Bronzetti(Italy). Earlier in the day, wild card holder Jule Niemeier, who was suffering from a knee injury, lost 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 to Diane Parry (France). The 15-year-old Julia Stusek gained important experience for the future when she lost 3-6, 4-6 to Jacqueline Cristian.