Ashleigh Barty is in, while Naomi Osaka has stepped out of Stuttgart.
The world No. 2 withdrew from the 44th Porsche Tennis Grand Prix set for April 17-25th.
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In her Miami Open pre-tournament press conference, Osaka suggested she would play a more limited schedule saying extended time on the road made her “sad somtimes” and homesick for her family.
“I’ve never thought of myself to be the type of player that would play week in and week out. I personally get homesick quite often. It makes me kind of sad sometimes,” Osaka said. “So, yeah, I’d love to just travel somewhere and just be really focused on that tournament. For me, that is something that I’ve learned works for me.
“Hopefully it will work for me this time in Europe because my results there haven’t been that great. Yeah, I feel like every year I’m on tour, I learn more about myself, what type of schedule I like to play.”
World No. 1 Barty will make her Stuttgart debut headlining a loaded field that includes seven the world’s Top 10 players playing for the champion’s check and a new Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.
‟I’ve heard lots of positive things about the tournament and I’m really looking forward to taking part for the first time,” Barty said.
Our long-time Porsche Team Germany member @andreapetkovic will compete at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix for the 12th time – the life of the party is returning! 💃 We cannot wait to see you in April! 👀#porschetennis pic.twitter.com/VSgzN35Tht
— Porsche Tennis (@PorscheTennis) March 24, 2021
Barty, the 2019 Roland Garros champion, will be joined by former French Open champion Simona Halep, reigning Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek, Sofia Kenin, reigning Stuttgart champion Petra Kvitova, Elina Svitolina, Aryna Sabalenka, Karolina Pliskova, Victoria Azarenka, Jennifer Brady and Belinda Bencic.
She is not only a former Grand Slam champion in Paris, but has also celebrated a great success in Stuttgart. We are very happy to welcome our 2018 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix doubles champion @JelenaOstapenk8 in the Porsche Arena! 🧡 #porschetennis pic.twitter.com/CJ03bJdeSJ
— Porsche Tennis (@PorscheTennis) March 24, 2021
Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and Germans Andrea Petkovic and Laura Siegemund have been awarded Stuttgart wild cards.
Photo credit: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Facebook