Elena Rybakina has successfully defended her title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, defeating Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-1 in the final. This marks her first repeat title and 13th overall, achieved in just 78 minutes. Rybakina's victory continues her impressive start to the year, following her Australian Open win in January.
Notably, the winner of the tournament in Stuttgart receives a Porsche, which they drive onto the court. After her 2024 win, Rybakina used her prize to take and pass her driver's test the following year.
Rybakina expressed her affection for the tournament, stating, "It's an amazing tournament, we love coming back here... It really feels like home." She also expressed her happiness about the win and the beautiful car that comes with it. Rybakina's path to the final included saving two match points in a three-hour quarter-final against Leylah Fernandez. Her victory has elevated her into an exclusive group of active players who have won at least five WTA-level titles on multiple surfaces, alongside Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina, and Iga Swiatek.
In other tennis news, Marta Kostyuk won the all-Ukrainian final against Veronika Podrez at the WTA Open de Rouen, claiming her second WTA singles title and first in over three years. Kostyuk described the match as a "historical moment for Ukrainian tennis," hoping to inspire more kids to take up the sport.