[bjurra]

Correct me if I am wrong but is the Stuttgart event in late April on clay, indoors?

If yes, how very odd to have an indoor event in the middle of a long outdoor season. The only indoor event between early March and late September. Isnt't the weather warm enough in Stuttgart for the girls to play outdoors?

 

[OsloErik]

Probably a precaution. All the German events in the spring since the dawn of the tour have had weather problems. I'm aware that Stuttgart is very southern Germany, but I'd be skeptical of playing an outdoor event in a deciduous rain-zone if I'm supposed to play the much more important event at Rome just days later. The risk for a make-up session and over exertion and messing with your clay pacing is a little much to expect a top player to go outdoors for a Tier II on clay the week before a Tier I.

 

[schorsch]

Plus the great facility would go to waste :awww: I've only played in balloons that had claycourts in them :lol: It was funny, so much faster :lol:

 

[ElusiveChanteuse]

I'm sure Serena will be there but not Sveta.

 

[frenchie]

Players who don't like clay should play here
It will be slightly faster

 

[Matt01]

Isnt't the weather warm enough in Stuttgart for the girls to play outdoors?

It is not because of the weather, which probably would be fine in April in Stuttgart. The reason why this tourney is played indoors is, as it was already mentioned, the facility, which is a relativley new one for this tournament so it doesn't get wasted.

 

[OsloErik]

Ah, the facility. I'd forgotten about the Stuttgart facility. Plus, didn't the tour have to cut a bigger deal with the German Tennis Federation after slashing Berlin?

 

[Leo_DFP]

Absurd! They should have kept Stuttgart as fall indoors on hard.

 

[In The Zone]

I think it would be a good transition. Green clay; red clay indoors; red clay outdoors.

 

[ChrisCologne]

The WTA made it very clear that due to the promo of tennis in Asia, the European tour in the fall of each season is no longer. Anke Huber as being part of those responsible wanted to keep the event as it is very famous among players and has a key sponsor in Porsche so they decided to add this event to the European clay season and use exactly the same clay as in Paris. They promote the event of having the same surface conditions as in Paris. It´s believed that a number of players will come and use the training and the matches being close both to Rome and to Paris to just get in shape under European circumstances rather than staying elsewhere and train there.

It´s sad that the hardcourts are gone but I believe the event itself has a chance to survive with this tactic. I doubt that the WTA is to re-install the European indoor season in the fall anytime soon.

 

[Nina.]

Ah, the facility. I'd forgotten about the Stuttgart facility. Plus, didn't the tour have to cut a bigger deal with the German Tennis Federation after slashing Berlin?

I think the Stuttgart tournament was planned exactly like this before the Berlin tournament was cancelled.

 

[crazillo]

I doubt that the WTA is to re-install the European indoor season in the fall anytime soon.

Which has always been my favourite part of the year, usually with great coverage as well! Oh well...

 

[bjurra]

I think it would be a good transition. Green clay; red clay indoors; red clay outdoors.

Variety is the spice of life...At least that is what Florian Mayer thinks when he plays grass in Halle, clay in Braunschweig and then grass in SW19 all within 14 days.

 

[bjurra]

It is not because of the weather, which probably would be fine in April in Stuttgart. The reason why this tourney is played indoors is, as it was already mentioned, the facility, which is a relativley new one for this tournament so it doesn't get wasted.

But did they really build the Porsche Arena specifically for the tennis tournament?

Btw, is this the first tournament ever on ATP or WTA level to be held indoors on clay?