A premiere, a small anniversary and plenty of top tennis: the fifth edition of the Bad Homburg Openpowered by Solarwatt (21 to 28 June 2025) will be in the spotlight more than ever before.
For the first time in its relatively short history, the grass court event is the biggest and most important WTA event in the week leading up to Wimbledon (from 30 June 2025). This unique feature sees to the top players purposefully stopping by the history-rich Kurpark on their way to the most important tennis tournament in the world.
Swiatek has the best memories: ‘The atmosphere was simply fantastic’
This year, Iga Swiatek and Belinda Bencic intend to take advantage of the exemplary conditions in Bad Homburg to optimally prepare for Wimbledon. After her four French Open triumphs in the past five years and her US Open success in 2022, the world number two, Swiatek, is dreaming of her first coup at the grass court mecca. After her debut at the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt two years ago, the Polish player raved about the atmosphere at the Kurpark: ‘The atmosphere in the stands was simply fantastic,’ Swiatekemphasized, ‘that’s not at all self-evident.’
In 2022, the 23-year old, a national hero in her home country, had the longest WTA winning streak of the 21stcentury to date: Swiatek remained undefeated in 37 consecutive matches – following in the footsteps of icons such as Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova. Perhaps it is a good omen that the right-hander from Warsaw now relies on her coach, Wim Fissette, the Belgian who led Angelique Kerber to her Wimbledon victory in 2018.
‘Mum’ Bencic receives congratulations from ‘Mummy’ Kerber
Bencic has always had big ambitions – however, since last year, the Tokyo Olympic medallist has been pursuing them under different circumstances. In April 2024, the Swiss gave birth to her daughter Bella and has since been part of the continuously growing group of mothers on the WTA Tour. Her comeback has been impressive: in January, Bencic made it to the round of 16 at the Australian Open and recently won the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi. Images of the 27-year old holding little Bella in her arms at the victory ceremony were seen around the globe.
Of course, Kerber, who ended her professional career last year and is expecting her second child in the summer, also congratulated Bencic. Best wishes from mummy to mum, so to speak. Despite having ended her career, the former world number one keeps in touch with the active players. Kerber has even played against most of them. Another circumstance that predestines the three-time Grand Slam winner to take on the job of Sports Director at the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt with immediate effect. She forms a dual leadership team with Tournament Director Aljoscha Thron.
Kerber intends to contribute her wealth of experience – ‘Lucky Lys’ looking forward
Since the event’s debut in 2021, which she won and created a summer’s tale, Kerber has already been active as the tournament ambassador. ‘This tournament is particularly close to my heart because I have been part of it since the very beginning – from the initial planning to the implementation,’ reports the 37-year old, who views herself as the link between the tournament and its participants: ‘As a former pro, I know exactly what is important to the players and I want to bring in my wealth of experience to ensure the best possible coordination between the organiser and the player field.’
It is in Kerber’s interest, who, since this year, has also been passing on her expertise as a consultant at the German Tennis Federation (Germ. abbr. DTB), that the German number one and upcoming hopeful, Eva Lys,receives a wild card for this year’s Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt. At the beginning of the year, the 23-year old had caused quite a stir when she made it to the round of 16 at the Australian Open as a lucky loser. Her nickname since then – how could it be otherwise: ‘Lucky Lys’.
’I am unbelievably happy to be competing in Bad Homburg this year. It has always been a dream of mine to play in the main draw there the week prior to Wimbledon,’ Lys points out and explicitly praises Kerber: ‘I’ve heard that Angie has thought of everything for the players.’
A proven motto: Wimbledon flair combined with a summer festival atmosphere
Tennis fans can certainly look forward to exciting and high-quality tournament days at the picturesque site of the TC Bad Homburg. Since, due to the reform of the WTA calendar as of this season, the Top 30 players’ route to Wimbledon mandatorily goes past the Kurpark, aptly for the boutique tournament’s small anniversary, the strongest draw ever is to be expected. Another milestone in the relatively short history of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt. And a special sign for the future of the most-visited German WTA event of the past year!
Wimbledon flair combined with a summer festival atmosphere, along with the chance to experience top tennis up close with the family – remains to be the motto regarding everything about the Kurpark in 2025. The seating capacity of the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court was increased (by 250 to 3765 seats) as were those of the two Baloise match courts (by 140 to 1260 seats) which are still freely accessible, as is the Baloise Park Village, the venue for the varied framework programme.
Whether it is culinary specialities, live music performances, the beer garden, the serve speed radar or other surprises – it remains the organiser’s goal to make the fan experience a priority. Looking ahead, they will adhere to their successful core concept, i.e. yearly innovations or adjustments are a fixed part of the plan. Having secured the venue until 2029, for the time being, ensures planning stability.
One thing, however, remains certain: in 2025, Wimbledon will once again start in Bad Homburg – and this time, bigger and better!
Tickets for the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt can be purchased here.
SWIATEK, BENCIC AND LYS TO COME – ANGELIQUE KERBER BECOMES SPORTS DIRECTOR OF THE BAD HOMBURG OPEN
A premiere, a small anniversary and plenty of top tennis: the fifth edition of the Bad Homburg Openpowered by Solarwatt (21 to 28 June 2025) will be in the spotlight more than ever before.
For the first time in its relatively short history, the grass court event is the biggest and most important WTA event in the week leading up to Wimbledon (from 30 June 2025). This unique feature sees to the top players purposefully stopping by the history-rich Kurpark on their way to the most important tennis tournament in the world.
Swiatek has the best memories: ‘The atmosphere was simply fantastic’
This year, Iga Swiatek and Belinda Bencic intend to take advantage of the exemplary conditions in Bad Homburg to optimally prepare for Wimbledon. After her four French Open triumphs in the past five years and her US Open success in 2022, the world number two, Swiatek, is dreaming of her first coup at the grass court mecca. After her debut at the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt two years ago, the Polish player raved about the atmosphere at the Kurpark: ‘The atmosphere in the stands was simply fantastic,’ Swiatekemphasized, ‘that’s not at all self-evident.’
In 2022, the 23-year old, a national hero in her home country, had the longest WTA winning streak of the 21stcentury to date: Swiatek remained undefeated in 37 consecutive matches – following in the footsteps of icons such as Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova. Perhaps it is a good omen that the right-hander from Warsaw now relies on her coach, Wim Fissette, the Belgian who led Angelique Kerber to her Wimbledon victory in 2018.
‘Mum’ Bencic receives congratulations from ‘Mummy’ Kerber
Bencic has always had big ambitions – however, since last year, the Tokyo Olympic medallist has been pursuing them under different circumstances. In April 2024, the Swiss gave birth to her daughter Bella and has since been part of the continuously growing group of mothers on the WTA Tour. Her comeback has been impressive: in January, Bencic made it to the round of 16 at the Australian Open and recently won the WTA 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi. Images of the 27-year old holding little Bella in her arms at the victory ceremony were seen around the globe.
Of course, Kerber, who ended her professional career last year and is expecting her second child in the summer, also congratulated Bencic. Best wishes from mummy to mum, so to speak. Despite having ended her career, the former world number one keeps in touch with the active players. Kerber has even played against most of them. Another circumstance that predestines the three-time Grand Slam winner to take on the job of Sports Director at the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt with immediate effect. She forms a dual leadership team with Tournament Director Aljoscha Thron.
Kerber intends to contribute her wealth of experience – ‘Lucky Lys’ looking forward
Since the event’s debut in 2021, which she won and created a summer’s tale, Kerber has already been active as the tournament ambassador. ‘This tournament is particularly close to my heart because I have been part of it since the very beginning – from the initial planning to the implementation,’ reports the 37-year old, who views herself as the link between the tournament and its participants: ‘As a former pro, I know exactly what is important to the players and I want to bring in my wealth of experience to ensure the best possible coordination between the organiser and the player field.’
It is in Kerber’s interest, who, since this year, has also been passing on her expertise as a consultant at the German Tennis Federation (Germ. abbr. DTB), that the German number one and upcoming hopeful, Eva Lys,receives a wild card for this year’s Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt. At the beginning of the year, the 23-year old had caused quite a stir when she made it to the round of 16 at the Australian Open as a lucky loser. Her nickname since then – how could it be otherwise: ‘Lucky Lys’.
’I am unbelievably happy to be competing in Bad Homburg this year. It has always been a dream of mine to play in the main draw there the week prior to Wimbledon,’ Lys points out and explicitly praises Kerber: ‘I’ve heard that Angie has thought of everything for the players.’
A proven motto: Wimbledon flair combined with a summer festival atmosphere
Tennis fans can certainly look forward to exciting and high-quality tournament days at the picturesque site of the TC Bad Homburg. Since, due to the reform of the WTA calendar as of this season, the Top 30 players’ route to Wimbledon mandatorily goes past the Kurpark, aptly for the boutique tournament’s small anniversary, the strongest draw ever is to be expected. Another milestone in the relatively short history of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt. And a special sign for the future of the most-visited German WTA event of the past year!
Wimbledon flair combined with a summer festival atmosphere, along with the chance to experience top tennis up close with the family – remains to be the motto regarding everything about the Kurpark in 2025. The seating capacity of the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court was increased (by 250 to 3765 seats) as were those of the two Baloise match courts (by 140 to 1260 seats) which are still freely accessible, as is the Baloise Park Village, the venue for the varied framework programme.
Whether it is culinary specialities, live music performances, the beer garden, the serve speed radar or other surprises – it remains the organiser’s goal to make the fan experience a priority. Looking ahead, they will adhere to their successful core concept, i.e. yearly innovations or adjustments are a fixed part of the plan. Having secured the venue until 2029, for the time being, ensures planning stability.
One thing, however, remains certain: in 2025, Wimbledon will once again start in Bad Homburg – and this time, bigger and better!
Tickets for the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt can be purchased here.
TICKETS SALES FOR THE FIFTH TOURNAMEND EDITION NEXT SUMMER HAVE BEGUN!
The 2024 grass court season is heading towards its climax: the Wimbledon finals are coming up this weekend – and Donna Vekic, the finalist of this year’s Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt, still has a chance to reach the final of the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament!
To sweeten the wait for the fifth edition of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt (21 to 28 June 2025), we are launching ticket pre-sales this Thursday!
After the grass season is before the grass season! Get your tickets here!
The unforgettable moments and special emotions of this year’s WTA 500 tournament will be remembered for a long time to come. The positive feedback is both an incentive and a challenge for us. That’s why we’re already looking ahead, because
Wimbledon will also start in the beautiful Kurpark in 2025…at least a little bit!
Wimbledon flair and summer festival also in June 2025!
The Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt will continue to attract visitors next year with its unique Tennis Boutique Experience and special summer festival atmosphere. As the event in the historic Kurpark in the week before the Wimbledon classic will be the only tournament in the highest WTA grass category (500), the strongest field of participants to date can also be expected.
See many stars of the scene next summer!
Experience top tennis on the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court (capacity: 3,700 seats) and a varied entertainment programme in the Baloise Park Village. Entertainment for young and old tennis fans is guaranteed.
The picturesque grounds of TC Bad Homburg provide the perfect setting for the Tennis Boutique Experience. With the expertise of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), conditions are created in the Hochtaunus region year after year that resemble those in the famous London district. An ideal Wimbledon preparation for the top players.
Who will take the title at the small anniversary next summer?
Since the prestigious upgrade to a WTA 500 Tournament at the beginning of the year, the prize money of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt has tripled to almost 1 million US dollars. The increased sporting relevance is also reflected in the expansion of the global TV broadcast to up to 168 markets.
Next summer, the fifth edition of the tournament will answer the exciting question of who will join tournament ambassador Angelique Kerber (2021), Caroline Garcia (2022), Katerina Siniakova (2023) and Diana Shnaider (2024) on the list of winners of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt.
Don’t miss out on this sporting highlight in the Rhine-Main region and secure your tickets for 2025 now!
DIANA SHNAIDER CROWNED KURPARK WINNER: “THIS WEEK WAS SIMPLY WONDERFUL” – RECORD NUMBER OF 55,000 VISITORS
Diana Shnaider could hardly believe her luck: after the 20-year-old had won the biggest title of her career so far in the historic Kurpark, she repeatedly threw up her hands in disbelief. A moment later, however, she was holding the tangible proof of her incredible week: The very special winner’s trophy of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt, a 3.5 kilogram bronze elephant balancing a silver tennis ball on its trunk.
Earlier in the day, in her first final at a WTA 500 tournament, Diana Shnaider defeated the experienced Donna Vekic(Croatia) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in a thrilling final match lasting 2:12 hours. “This has been a great week,” said the world number 47, who will break into the top 30 for the first time in the new rankings on Monday. The former college player from South Carolina also braved the heat and humidity on Saturday. “The whole day was physically very tough and a special experience for me as a young player. I’m very happy to have made it.“
Headscarf and forehand whip: from party crasher to crowd favourite
In the first round of the grass-court event with Wimbledon flair, Diana Shnaider, the left-hander with the signature headscarf and the cracking forehand whip, knocked out tournament ambassador Angelique Kerber of all people. The party crasher then became the crowd favourite and defeated Dayana Yastremska (Ukraine), former world number two Paula Badosa (Spain) and third seed Emma Navarro (USA), who had reached the semi-finals of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt in 2023, on her way to her second WTA title after the coup in Thailand in February.
The nail-biting final was a fitting end to a fantastic week of tournament action, which included a new attendance record. A total of 55,000 spectators flocked to the venue over the eight days of the tournament.
Brilliant tournament results and bright prospects – venue secured until 2029
“Our aim was to organise an atmospheric summer tennis festival in the Kurpark for everyone – with a varied supporting programme, concerts and innovations such as the extended beer garden area,” said Tournament Director Aljoscha Thron, who was particularly pleased with the positive feedback from players such as former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and Paula Badosa, who repeatedly praised the special atmosphere in the picturesque grounds of the TC Bad Homburg and the enthusiasm of the spectators.
Irrespective of further developments as the tournament moves up to WTA 500 status, the organisers are keen to retain the boutique character of the event as this is and will remain its unique selling point.
The Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt will continue to be characterised by top-class tennis with Wimbledon flair, a top-class field and a summer festival atmosphere in the freely accessible Baloise Park Village. The venue has been secured until at least 2029 – great prospects for the future!
Top seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez/Ellen Perez (USA/Australia) won the doubles on Saturday 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 against Hao-Ching Chan/Veronika Kudermetova (Taiwan/Russia).
BIRTHDAY GIRL VEKIC GIVES HERSELF A PRESENT – KERBER CONQUEROR SHNAIDER AWAITS IN THE FINAL – DOUBLES FINAL BROUGHT FORWARD TO 11 AM
Donna Vekic was visibly touched – and had two reasons to be happy. Shortly after reaching the semi-finals, the Croatian was serenaded on her 28th birthday by the 3,700 spectators at the sold-out Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court. “It was wonderful and very special,” said Donna Vekic after tournament director Aljoscha Thron presented her with a magnum bottle of French rosé wine from Provence following her 6-0, 7-6 (8-6) win over qualifier Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria.
On Saturday (1:30 pm), the world no. 49 will be playing for her fifth WTA singles title in the final of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt against fellow unseeded Kerber conqueror Diana Shnaider (47) – it would be her second on grass. “Grass is really my favorite surface. But I still didn’t expect to be in the final here,” said Donna Vekic, who has been hampered by injuries throughout her career.
Shnaider’s evening programme: A phone call and a lot of relaxation
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Diana Shnaider had to fight harder than her opponent in the final before coming through 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 against third-seeded Emma Navarro of the USA. It was a clash of former US college players. “I am going to call my parents, have a nice dinner, cool my face, get a massage – and then nothing,” said the left-handed Diana Shnaider of her plans for the evening ahead of her first WTA 500 final. She won her first singles title on tour in Thailand (WTA 250) earlier this year.
Doubles final brought forward due to thunderstorm warning – singles to start as scheduled
The doubles final of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt will be played on Saturday at 11:00 am on the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court due to a warning from the German Weather Service (DWD) of severe thunderstorms, gusty winds and heavy rain. This decision was taken by the tournament organizers in close consultation with the WTA on Friday evening in order to ensure the safety of the players, spectators and all other stakeholders. The aim is to ensure that both finals can be played on Centre Court despite the severe weather warning.
The singles final between Donna Vekic and Diana Shnaider is scheduled to start at 1:30 pm. The doubles final between Nicole Melichar-Martinez/Ellen Perez and Hao-Ching Chan/Veronika Kudermetova was originally scheduled to take place after the singles final on Saturday.
The opening of the Baloise Park Village and the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court has therefore been brought forward to 10:00 am.
KURPARK FAN EMMA NAVARRO BACK IN THE SEMIS: “I LOVE THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE FANS” – KERBER CONQUEROR DIANA SHNAIDER CAUSES ANOTHER SURPRISE
Emma Navarro had to think for a moment after reaching the semi-finals when court commentator Matthias Stach smiled and made a tempting suggestion. She should apply to the WTA to organise the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt every week. “I’d love to,” said third seed Emma Navarro to a sell-out crowd of 3700 at the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court: “I love it here, the fans and the atmosphere. Thank you for giving me such a great week.“
However, the 19th-ranked American was unable to celebrate her second straight semi-final appearance at the Kurpark as Emma Navarro took advantage of former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki’s retirement in the last eight. The Danish wildcard bend over at 5-4 in the first set and needed treatment on her left knee. Despite continuing to play with a brace, she was unable to continue early in the third set and Emma Navarroeventually won 4-6, 6-1, 1-0.
Badosa predicts a big future for Shnaider: “Aggressive and smart!
In the semi-final on Friday (2:00 pm/SKY, sportschau.de), the 23-year-old from North Carolina will meet Kerber’s conqueror Diana Shnaider in a clash of former US college players. The 20-year-old, who won her first WTA title in Thailand in February 2024, again impressed with her powerful game in a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) win over former world number two Paula Badosa.
The Spaniard then whispered something extremely motivational into the ear of winner Diana Shnaider as she congratulated her at the net: “Paula told me that if I play like this, I can be in the top ten.” The left-hander, who wears her signature pirate scarf to protect her head, is currently ranked 47th in the WTA rankings. She describes her style of play as: “Aggressive and smart!”
In the second semi-final (4:00 pm/SKY) on Friday afternoon, Bulgarian qualifier Viktoriya Tomova will take on Croatia’s Donna Vekic, who has reached the final round without a fight after defending champion Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic pulled out of Thursday’s quarter-final with a hip injury. Viktoriya Tomova, who beat Anna Blinkova 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (11-9) 2:11 hours later on Thursday night, had defeated Tatjana Maria in the opening round.
This means that the fourth edition of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt will have a new champion after Angelique Kerber (2021), Caroline Garcia (2022) and Katerina Siniakova (2023) triumphed in the Kurpark.
Here is a rundown of Friday’s (28 June) semi-finals:
2:00 pm: Emma Navarro (USA/No. 3) – Diana Shnaider (Russia)
4:00 pm: Donna Vekic (Croatia) – Viktoriya Tomova (Bulgaria)
NIEMEIER LOSES TO BADOSA – WOZNIACKI AND THE MAGIC OF THE KURPARK: “EVERYONE CAN BE PROUD OF THIS TOURNAMENT”
Jule Niemeier got off to a strong start but missed out on another surprise in the end: The 24-year-old was beaten 6-4, 2-6, 1-6 by former world number two Paula Badosa (Spain) in the round of sixteen at the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt. “I played very, very well in the first set. It was exactly the kind of tennis I want to play, the kind of tennis I want to show,” said Jule Niemeier, who couldn’t explain her subsequent slump: “We’ll work through what happened in the second and third sets and then hopefully it won’t happen again.”
The 2022 Wimbledon quarter-finalist, who had beaten top seed Maria Sakkari in three sets the day before, made 12 double faults. But even the support of the 3500 spectators on the Spielbank Bad Homburg Open did not help on Tuesday.
Wozniacki praised after three-set win over Svitolina
Caroline Wozniacki also experienced the magic of the Kurpark: The 2018 Australian Open champion got the better of last year’s Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, winning 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-5 in the replay of the opening match that had been abandoned the day before due to darkness. It was the Dane’s first grass court victory since Wimbledon 2019.
Afterwards, Caroline Wozniacki was full of praise for the tournament at the historic grounds of TC Bad Homburg: “This is a very special tournament – with a great crowd. Everyone involved here can be proud,” she said in an on-court interview with Matthias Stach. Veronika Kudermetova awaits the mother-of-two in the round of 16 on Wednesday (4:00 pm).
Teenie Stusek: First class work, then main round in Bad Homburg
The last few days have also been exciting for the highly talented Julia Stusek. The 15-year-old member of the Porsche Junior Team received a qualifying wildcard for the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt, “for which I am very grateful to tournament director Aljoscha Thron,” she said.
Last Saturday, Julia Stusek, daughter of a former professional tennis player and a tennis coach, lost her qualifying match in the Kurpark and then plunged back into her everyday life. The best proof: On Monday she had written a class test at her school in Mannheim before things took a turn for the better: Due to Yulia Putintseva’s injury, Julia Stusek slipped into the main draw of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt as the lucky loser. On Tuesday, she will take on Peyton Stearns from the USA, who is currently 854 places above the German in the world rankings.
Defending champion Siniakova faces detention on Wednesday.
After some initial nerves, the heavy underdog held her nerve in a series of rallies five days before her 16th birthday to almost level the second set. “All in all, it was a great experience to be here. I think I’m on the right track,” said a proud Julia Stusek. It was her first main-round match at a WTA tournament.
The first round match between defending champion Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic) and Russian second seed Liudmila Samsonova had to be cancelled on Tuesday evening due to darkness at 6:3, 2:2 and has been rescheduled for Wednesday.
TOURNAMENT AMBASSADOR KERBER OUT OF LUCK – LUCKY LOSER NIEMEIER PROVIDES BIG SURPRISE AND GREAT ATMOSPHERE
Angelique Kerber turned around and waved to her fans. The crowd on the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court, which was also sold out with 3700 spectators on the second day of the main draw, gave the tournament ambassador a rousing ovation after her 5-7, 3-6 opening loss to Diana Shnaider. “I made too many mistakes in the big moments. Nevertheless, I tried to get into the match until the end, find my rhythm and somehow win the match. But unfortunately, it wasn’t to be,” said Angelique Kerber, who was nevertheless confident ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on 1 July: “I’ll try to take the positives from this.”
Lucky loser Jule Niemeier had earlier caused a big surprise at the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt when she defeated world number nine Maria Sakkari 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4). With two double faults, the Greek finished off a thrilling duel that lasted 2:36 hours in glorious weather. An impressive time for grass court tennis! The third set alone took over 1:24 hours.
Jule Niemeier against Paula Badosa in the round of 16 on Tuesday
“The atmosphere on Centre Court was really, really good. It’s great fun to play in Germany,” said Jule Niemeier after her third win against a top ten player. The 2022 Wimbledon quarter-finalist found out just a few hours before her match on Monday morning that she would be the lucky loser in the main draw after Elisabetta Cocciaretto (Italy) withdrew due to illness.
Jule Niemeier had lost in the qualifying round on Saturday as a wild card holder and had even travelled back to her hometown Regensburg. The following day, she returned to Hesse and the Frankfurt football stadium, where the world number 96 watched Germany’s final EURO group match against Switzerland (1-1) on Sunday evening. It was perhaps a good omen that Niclas Füllkrug, a striker for her favourite club Borussia Dortmund, scored the equaliser just before the final whistle.
Caroline Wozniacki and Elina Svitolina go into extra time
On Tuesday, Jule Niemeier will meet former world number two Paula Badosa from Spain at 4 p.m. (Eurosport, SKY, sportschau.de) for a place in the quarter-finals. Lucky loser Tamara Korpatsch missed out on a place in the last sixteen despite a committed performance against fourth seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil (1-6, 6-7). Defending champion Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic defeated Clara Burel of France 6-3, 6-7 (7-9), 6-1.
The match between former number one Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) and last year’s Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina from Ukraine was abandoned at 6:3, 6:7 (4:7), 1:2 due to darkness. The match will resume on Tuesday.
MONDAY’S TOP MATCHES: KERBER’S KURPARK COMEBACK, WOZNIACKI CHALLENGES SVITOLINA – BADOSA RAVES ABOUT THE CROWD
Former world number two Paula Badosa repeatedly gazed in awe at the sell-out crowd of 3700 on the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court and made a declaration of love: “It’s unbelievable, we’re playing the first round here – and the stands are completely full,” the Spaniard said in English after her 6-4, 6-1 win over Arantxa Rus (Netherlands), adding in German: “Thank you!”
Tournament ambassador Angelique Kerber is also looking forward to the atmosphere in the Kurpark ahead of her comeback on Monday at 4pm (Eurosport, SKY and sportschau.de) against world number 49 Diana Shnaider. “All the emotions you get here are intense and unforgettable. I really missed these impressions last year,” said the 2018 Wimbledon champion, who is playing her first home match in two years after maternity leave.
Three Grand Slam winners on “Magic Monday
Kerber’s match is just one of the highlights on a Super Monday that features three Grand Slam winners: In addition to the tournament ambassador, former Australian Open champion and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) will play last year’s Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina (Ukraine). Canadian wildcard Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion, will also play her first round match against Anna Blinkova. Defending champion Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic will play Clara Burel of France.
Tatjana Maria goes down to fearsome opponent
Tatjana Maria was unlucky on the first day of the tournament as she once again came up against her feared opponent Viktoriya Tomova. The German number one went down 6-1, 6-3 to the qualifier – Tatjana Maria had already lost to the Bulgarian in Hobart earlier this year. Tamara Korpatsch was the lucky loser in the main draw and will take on fourth seed Beatriz Haddad Maria of Brazil on Monday.
Meanwhile, top ten player Maria Sakkari won a number of new fans at her autograph session in the busy Baloise Park Village on Sunday: The world number nine from Greece, who will meet Elisabetta Cocciaretto (Italy) at 12 pm on Monday in the first match of the day on the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court, appeared in a German national football shirt with the number 18 – and the name Klinsmann on the back!
Hessian Sports Minister Diana Stolz presented tournament director Aljoscha Thron with a €125,000 grant from the state of Hesse.
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.
WIMBLEDON FLAIR AND SUMMER FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE IN THE KURPARK – LOCATION SECURED UNTIL 2029
The countdown to the fourth edition of the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt has begun: From Saturday, visitors to the Kurpark can enjoy a week of top tennis with Wimbledon flair, a special summer festival atmosphere and a varied supporting programme.
Five Grand Slam champions with a total of eight major titles will be competing in the upgraded WTA 500 event. These include reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka, tournament ambassador Angelique Kerber and former number one Caroline Wozniacki.
And the top players always enjoy coming back to Bad Homburg! All the previous tournament winners will be there again this time. Defending champion Katerina Siniakova, for example, won the French Open doubles competition just a few days ago.
The countdown to Wimbledon will continue to take place in Bad Homburg in the coming years too
As part of the re-organisation and new emphasis on the prestigious grass court season, the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt will become even more important from 2025, as it will then be the only tournament with the highest WTA grass court status in the week before Wimbledon. This is another reason why the event has brilliant potential on the picturesque grounds of the TC Bad Homburg, as the location has been secured (initially until 2029).
However, it is important to the organiser and Tournament Director Aljoscha Thron that the boutique character of the event continues to be intensively cultivated regardless of the new features, as this is a unique selling point in the WTA calendar.
Promotion to the highest WTA grass-court category another milestone in the tournament’s history
Thanks to the WTA 500 upgrade, the Bad Homburg Open powered by Solarwatt now ranks in the highest category of German professional tennis tournaments and also belongs to the top tier of prestigious grass court tournaments before Wimbledon. In terms of prize money, this means a tripling to just under 1 million US dollars (923,000 US dollars).
The increased sporting relevance is also reflected in the expansion of global TV coverage to up to 168 markets. At national level, live coverage will be expanded this year to include additional matches with the existing TV channels – SKY, Eurosport and hr/ARD. The addition of the renowned “Sportschau” as a further streaming platform means that fans can look forward to a significantly expanded digital offering. Tennis expert Matthias Stach, who is well-known from TV (Eurosport), will be the on-court presenter at the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court.
Further developed experience programme – new beer garden area as a feel-good oasis
This summer, visitors to Baloise Park Village will once again be able to enjoy a varied supporting programme with a summer festival atmosphere – including exciting theme days for young and old and a musical entertainment programme. One of the highlights: The opening concert presented by Baloise on 22 June (from 6.00 pm), where the band “Pfund” will rock the concert area. As with last year’s celebrated gig by Tom Walker, admission is free.
On Brunnenallee, the extended food truck offer will enrich the tournament visit with culinary delights. Festival atmosphere included! The newly designed beer garden area in front of the Kaiser-Wilhelms-Bad is an eye-catcher – an example of the constantly evolving experience concept. Once again, fans will have the chance to watch selected live matches from the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court on the big screen as part of the Tennis Public Viewing presented by MEINE BANK.
Grandstands on Match Courts 1 + 2 for the first time – enjoy top tennis up close!
Skill is required at the FFH Racket Sports Challenge. As part of the theme days – Kids Day on 24 June and Clubs Day on 26 June – there will be additional activities such as a children’s PK. And there will also be musical highlights: the Bad Homburg Spa Orchestra will be playing at the concert area on 23, 25 and 26 June from 3.00 pm.
The further development of the Fan Experience is also noticeable on the Baloise Match Courts 1 + 2: an additional 320 seats have been created there with the help of grandstands. Access to both courts will continue to be free of charge.
An exciting new feature this year: German junior tennis players will also have their very own stage. At the Bad Homburg Open Juniors presented by YONEX, which is being held for the first time, eight of the strongest German U13 juniors will be competing between 27 and 29 June. The invitational tournament will be played in knockout mode. The finals (29 June) and semi-finals (28 June) will be played on the Baloise match courts of the main facility.
Solarwatt and Bad Homburg Open plan sustainability measures
Together with the new presenting partner Solarwatt, the Bad Homburg Open is already setting the course for sustainability this year and taking the first concrete measures. For example, the first grandstand areas will be covered with panels over a length of around 20 metres. The construction of a permanent solar power generation system on buildings in the Kurpark is being planned in order to be able to offset the entire electricity consumption of the tournament in a climate-friendly way in future.
With the Solarwatt team from the new location in Frankfurt am Main, over 30 experts will also be on site at Baloise Park Village to provide tournament visitors with expert advice on all aspects of solar power, e-mobility, heat pumps and infrared heating.
Many thanks to partners, supporters, sponsors, TC Bad Homburg and Homburger TG
The tournament can continue to rely on proven partners, supporters and sponsors on its way into the future. Just recently, for example, the contracts with the platinum partners Baloise and Steigenberger were extended on a long-term basis. The oldest tennis club on the European continent, TC Bad Homburg, will continue to make its beautiful grounds available as a venue for the tournament. In addition, the successful co-operation with the Homburg TG as the location of the three training courts for the players will continue.