Star power on centre court: Martina Hingis and Andrea Petković will contest an exclusive exhibition match at the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open on Sunday, 26th July.
This is going to be absolutely legendary! The final day of the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open will feature another spectacular highlight: before the WTA tournament final (from 2 PM), former world number one and 25-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis and former top 10 player and now tournament ambassador Andrea Petković will face off in an exclusive exhibition match on the centre court at Hamburg's Rothenbaum. It all kicks off at 12 PM! Two of the most famous personalities in international women's tennis from recent decades will thus provide an enthralling start to finals day and promise tennis fans top entertainment and plenty of emotional moments.
One of the most successful players in tennis history, Martina Hingis, is returning to Hamburg. The Swiss player defined a generation of tennis at the end of the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s, impressing the world with her exceptional game intelligence, precise timing and tactical brilliance. She made history as a 16-year-old when, in 1997, she became the youngest world number one in history, a title she still holds. In total, Hingis won 43 WTA singles titles, including five Grand Slam singles tournaments. In addition, she won 13 Grand Slam women's doubles titles and seven Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, bringing her total to 25 Grand Slam titles.
Martina Hingis shares a very special history with Hamburg. She won two of her 43 WTA singles titles at the traditional Rothenbaum tournament in 1998 and 2000. Hamburg was one of the most important clay court tournaments on the WTA tour, especially during her dominant phase at the top of the world rankings. To this day, Hingis associates Rothenbaum with a unique atmosphere and a particularly enthusiastic audience. Three years ago, Hingis visited the tournament to celebrate the WTA's 50th anniversary in Hamburg. „I have incredibly fond memories of Hamburg. Rothenbaum was one of my favourite tournaments and I won two titles here – moments I will never forget. The Hamburg tennis fans have always made the tournament special. That's why I'm very happy to be back here and to be able to play on this traditional centre court once again,“ Hingis says, looking ahead to her Hamburg comeback.
On the other side of the net awaits one of the most popular German tennis players of recent decades, Andrea Petković. The former top-10 player won seven WTA titles, reached the final in Hamburg in 2021, and was in the semi-finals of the French Open in 2014. „It is a very special honour for me to be allowed to play against Martina Hingis on the Centre Court. She has shaped women's tennis for many years and was a role model for many players of my generation. I am hugely looking forward to this match and am sure that the fans will experience an entertaining and thrilling show,“ says Petkovic, who last met Hingis at a Grand Slam tournament in the women's doubles. Petkovic played there in the Legends tournament in doubles with her good friend Angelique Kerber, Martina Hingis in mixed doubles with Hamburg native Tommy Haas.
„I am incredibly pleased that two legends of international women's tennis, Martina Hingis and Andrea Petković, will be meeting at the Rothenbaum. Both stand for sporting class, personality, power, and great emotions. This exhibition match will further enrich the final day of the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open and give Hamburg's tennis fans an unforgettable experience,“ added tournament director Sandra Reichel.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the final day are also valid for the show match and can be purchased via the online ticket shop at www.hamburg-open.com Available. Children and young people up to 16 years of age have free entry on the final day.
Profile Martina Hingis (Switzerland)
- Born on 30 September 1980 in Kosice
- 209 weeks as world number 1 in singles and 90 weeks in doubles;
Youngest world number 1 in tennis at 16 years old (1997) - 5 Grand Slam singles titles Australian Open 1997 to 1999, Wimbledon 1997, US Open 1997
- 13 Grand Slam doubles titles, 7 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles; 25 Grand Slam titles in total
- 43 WTA singles titles, including tournament victories at Hamburg's Rothenbaum in 1998 (in the final against Jana Novotna) and 2000 (in the final against Arantxa Sanchez Vicario)
- 64 WTA Doubles Titles
- Winner of the WTA Finals singles in 1998 and 2000
- Olympic silver 2016 in Rio de Janeiro in doubles with Timea Baczinsky
- Fed Cup winner with Switzerland 1998