Elena Rybakina has achieved her first title repeat, defeating Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-1 in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final, a tournament she first won in 2024. This victory marks her 13th overall title, which she secured in just 78 minutes, further solidifying her impressive start to the year following her Australian Open win in January. Notably, the winner of the Stuttgart tournament is traditionally awarded a Porsche, which they drive onto the court.
After her 2024 win, Rybakina used her prize to take and pass her driving test the following year, as she had not yet obtained her driver's license at the time of her first victory. Rybakina expressed her affection for the tournament, stating, "It's an amazing tournament, we love coming back here. It really feels like home, and you just want to come back every year." She also expressed her happiness about her second win in Stuttgart and the beautiful car that comes with it.
Although she exuded confidence in the final, having reached the end of the week with three straight-set victories, Rybakina also had to overcome a challenging quarter-final against Leylah Fernandez, where she saved two match points in a three-hour match. This win has elevated Rybakina into an exclusive group, making her the fourth active player to win at least five WTA-level titles on multiple surfaces. She joins an elite group of players, including Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina, and Iga Swiatek.
In other news, Marta Kostyuk emerged victorious in an all-Ukrainian final against Veronika Podrez at the WTA Open de Rouen, winning 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 21 minutes to claim her second WTA singles title and her first in over three years. Kostyuk reflected on the significance of the match, saying, "This match today was not just a match; it was a historical moment for Ukrainian tennis, as it was the first time two Ukrainians played in a final." She expressed her pride in Ukrainian tennis, acknowledging the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication that goes into the sport, and hoped that this match would inspire more kids to try the sport and experience the emotion and passion it brings.