Raiffeisenbank im Hochtaunus eG with its brand “Meine Bank” becomes Premium Partner of the Bad Homburg Open presented by Engel & Völkers. “In addition to tradition and progress, we are united by passion and the will to always go above and beyond,” says Achim Brunner, CEO of Raiffeisenbank im Hochtaunus eG, about the cooperation.

Raiffeisenbank is deeply rooted in the region and has special ties to the sport. “Together, we want to enrich the fan experience in the Kurpark and thus continuously develop the Bad Homburg Open,” emphasizes Dr. Aljoscha Thron, Tournament Director of the Bad Homburg Open.

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Interview with Achim Brunner, Chairman of the Board of Raiffeisenbank im Hochtaunus eG.

QUESTION: Dear Mr. Brunner, we are extremely pleased to welcome Raiffeisenbank im Hochtaunus eG with its “Meine Bank” brand as a partner of the Bad Homburg Open. Why is this connection a ‘perfect match’ from your point of view? 

Our engagement in recent years has been dominated by sporting events. With our sponsorship of Eintracht Frankfurt, the German Polo Tour in Oberursel or the choice of our brand ambassador Sebastian Rode, we are literally always on the ball. Tradition and progress, security and curiosity, regional and digital. That is our foundation. Many of these attributes can also be found on the tennis court, therefore Meine Bank and the Bad Homburg Open form a ‘Perfect Match’. 

QUESTION: Your company is deeply rooted in the Hochtaunus district and in Bad Homburg directly. What advantages does Bad Homburg offer – from a business perspective or in terms of quality of life?

The gateway to the Taunus has long been a modern business location and combines the charm of a spa town based on traditions with an urban lifestyle. A first-class infrastructure connects the spa town in the Hochtaunus region with important locations in the metropolitan area around Frankfurt. The business location Bad Homburg is characterized by a balanced structure with strong companies from sustainable industries. Just like us, the values of tradition and progress play a major role here. 

QUESTION: Tennis pros such as tournament ambassador Angelique Kerber or last year’s Bad Homburg Open winner Caroline Garcia have to think and act strategically when they pursue their jobs. In your point of view, are there any other parallels between tennis and banking? 

In this context, too, our values ‘matches’ tradition and progress. Both in professional sports and in business, you have to master the basics to be successful. But to stand out from the crowd, you are in need of innovative techniques – or as in our case – an innovative business model. This is how we continue to develop and set the right impulses for our customers and the future viability of our company.

QUESTION: This special touch of Wimbledon is a characteristic feature of the Bad Homburg lawn event. What do you appreciate about this flair? 

We appreciate the combination of a first-class event coupled with a lot of emotions, unforgettable impressions and a fabulous scenery.

QUESTION: Which doubles partner would you like to play a match with on the Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court? What do you admire most about him/her? 

I would love to be in a mixed together with Steffi Graf on the grass court in the Hessian Wimbledon. I look back on her matches with great enthusiasm and her remarkable career over a long period of time. I particularly remember her Golden Slam success from 1988, when she won all four Grand Slam tournaments in one year, plus the olympic gold medal.

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About Raiffeisenbank im Hochtaunus eG 

With its OnlineOnly account, Raiffeisenbank is one of the few banks to offer a free online bank account. In addition to debit and savings accounts, the range of services and products includes, in particular, personal consulting for customers on all matters relating to financing as well as investments and insurance. As one of the pioneers of customer-oriented banking, Meine Bank has long offered expert advice at attractive consulting times – in person, by phone or digitally, depending on the customer’s wishes. The bank is available to all its customers via its own online branch – every day, around the clock. More information: meinebank.de

Few players have dominated a tennis season as much as Iga Swiatek did in the year 2022. The young Pole won two Grand Slam titles and was even on par with icons such as Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova in some statistics. The world number one will be competing in the Kurpark in June 2023.

When looking back at her brilliant season in 2022, even the protagonist herself was somewhat speechless. “You can’t describe it in one word or even one sentence. But what I do know for sure is that it really was a very special year that I will never forget,” Iga Swiatek reported on her superlative success. The manner in which she carried herself along the way, emphatically modest and humble, says a lot about not only the player Iga Swiatek – but also the person.  

Despite being only 21 years old, the world number one appears particularly reflective and is a very pleasant conversational partner. No wonder that she thinks nothing of platitudes. Befitting her profile, the current best female tennis player has had a sports psychologist at her side since the beginning of her professional career. Daria Abramowicz is an integral part of Swiatek’s team; essential, just like a coach or a physio.  

“Iga is willing to put in the work. She is aware of the importance of psychology – not just mental training, but of sports psychology in general, as a big piece of the puzzle in order to succeed at the top level in tennis”, Abramovic explained in an interview with online portal tennismajors.com. And Swiatek’s compatriot knows what makes her client so special: “Even on her worst day, she is open-minded and able to process things.” Noticeably, both on and off the court.

 

Swiatek looks back on a season of superlatives

She proved that impressively in 2022 when Swiatek claimed her second and third Grand Slam titles (French Open and US Open). Moreover, in addition to her triumphs at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows, the sensation from Warsaw became the youngest and only the fourth player ever to win the so-called Sunshine Double – consisting of consecutive victories at the Indian Wells and Miami WTA 1000 tournaments. Only Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka had achieved this feat before her.

This year, Swiatek has triumphed in a total of eight tournaments (four of them WTA 1000 events), including the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Her match record stands at 67:9 – the most wins by a player in one season for nine years. “Even at her relatively young age, Iga has that special aura that only the greats have,” praised US icon Pam Shriver.  

 

Iga is looking forward to Bad Homburg’s Kurpark, having “Already heard so many good things”

Impressively, the daughter of a Polish rower and 1988 Olympian went 37 games in a row without a single defeat (21 February to 27 June). The circuit has not seen a longer winning streak since 1990. Swiatek’s quota against the top ten was particularly impressive (15 wins in a row). In this statistic, too, only Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova have been better in the past 40 years.  

The three-time Major Champion is already looking forward to the tournament in the Kurpark: “I have already heard many good things about the Bad Homburg Open. Especially regarding the fans and the atmosphere on the Centre Court,” emphasised Swiatek, who feels quite at home on grass. Proof: her Wimbledon victory in the junior women’s tournament in 2018. 

Incidentally, Angelique Kerber, tournament ambassador of the Bad Homburg Open presented by Engel & Völkers, celebrated her greatest triumph on the holy lawn that year. For Swiatek, the event in the Kurpark is “the perfect preparation for Wimbledon”. The most important Grand Slam tournament begins two days after the Bad Homburg final at London’s Church Road.  

Tickets for the Bad Homburg Open can be purchased in cooperation with Reservix on the tournament homepage as well as in authorised sales offices.   

The Wimbledon winner provides deep insights into her tennis soul and strives to be an encouragement, for not only sports fans.

The memories of the Bad Homburg Open 2021 are still very present for Angelique Kerber. Looking back on the premiere of the grass court event, the three-time Grand Slam winner is full of praise. What follows is a tribute to a project from the heart: “It was wonderful to see how happy and full of anticipation the spectators flocked to the grounds during the first days of the tournament and how our vision of Wimbledon’s flair came to life in the historic spa gardens of Bad Homburg, at the oldest tennis facility on the European continent,” writes tournament ambassador Angelique Kerber in her recently published autobiography (Edel Sports Verlag).

“A question of will”, is the title of the work. Subtitle: “My way to the top”. Very befitting, given the many ups and downs that have marked her career so far. If anyone knows what it means to fight back, it’s the 34-year-old. Whether in a set, a match – or after a fall into the valley of tears.

Demons as uninvited guests – lunch with Obama – anticipation of a comeback

Over 224 pages, Angelique Kerber impressively describes sporting triumphs such as the 2018 Wimbledon victory, whilst also not shying away from sporting and personal crises. She does so in a very close and emotional way. By doing so, she does not only want to address tennis fans. “I hope that my message comes across and that anyone can take something away from this book,” emphasised the former world number one, who is expecting her first child in the spring of 2023. Angelique Kerber uses her story to give tips on what you can learn from crises and how you can fight back.

For years, she had been taking notes, reflecting and processing writing a book. The 2016 US Open winner considered her pregnancy-related break as the ideal time to draw up conclusions and publish her autobiography.

Readers can expect an exciting journey with chapters such as “Uninvited guests – demons called doubt” or “Tennis, Corona and love”. The 2018 Wimbledon victory (prologue, interlude, game set and match) sets the scene. And a former US president also plays a role. Angelique Kerber tells of a thrilling encounter with Barack Obama. “His charisma was really impressive. How calm and relaxed he was when we met at the American Embassy in Berlin, that was incredible.”

The Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist also dedicates quite a few lines to the Bad Homburg Open: “If I wasn’t on the court myself, I was either in the tournament office, with the journalists, getting feedback from the players and coaches or enjoying the atmosphere as a simple spectator with friends and family in the stadium. In short, I didn’t work for the tournament, I identified with it. With full vigour, around the clock – after all, it was a very special project from the heart.”

After her baby break, Angelique Kerber wants to return to the tour. Competing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris is just one of her goals. The last sentence of her autobiography rings of self-confidence: “The future can come, because I know who I am and the path I’ve taken to get here.”

The book “A Question of Will” is available since 5 November 2022. Edel Sports, 224 pages, with picture spread, format 13.5x21cm. Also available as a e-book. ISBN 978-3-98588-057-7. Price 19,95 Euro.

The Mexican wave spilled over the stands in the Kurpark – and Caroline Garcia soaked in the atmosphere after her surprising final appearance at the Bad Homburg Open presented by Engel & Völkers. “A lot of fans have been coming since the beginning of the tournament. It’s just great to see that. It’s a very nice event,” Garcia said after her 7-6 (11-9), 3-6, 7-5 win in the French semi-final against ninth seed Alizé Cornet.

In front of 3,500 spectators on the once again sold-out Spielbank Bad Homburg Centre Court, the world number 75 won in 2:45 hours after a high-class exchange of strokes. The 32-year-old Cornet, who had eliminated tournament ambassador and defending champion Angelique Kerber in the quarter-finals on Thursday, missed a match point at 5:4 in the deciding set.

Garcia sees Andreescu as the favourite in the Bad Homburg Open final

Caroline Garcia will face Canadian Bianca Andreescu in the final on Saturday (13.30). The 2019 US Open winner advanced through to the final on Friday as her opponent Simona Halep of Romania had to pull out a few hours before the start of the preliminary round match.

“Unfortunately, I woke up this morning with a blockage in my neck. This circumstance doesn’t allow me to play my best on the court,” said former world number one Halep, who had high praise for the organisers: “I really enjoyed my time here. I want to thank the organisers for putting this great tournament together, it’s one of the best I know. To see this sold-out Centre Court every day is special.”

While the 28-year-old Garcia is playing for her third grass-court title overall on the WTA Tour, Andreescu is in a grass-court final for the first time. “Bianca is an aggressive player who moves well on the court and has experience of winning major trophies. She’s definitely the favourite,” Garcia said of Andreescu, who is almost seven years her junior and was world number five in 2021 but then struggled with injuries.