The MSC Hamburg Ladies Open 2026 will feature a thrilling German duel right from the start. Local favourite Noma Noha Akugue will face wildcard player Valentina Steiner, who celebrated her 20th birthday on Sunday. This was revealed by the main draw on Sunday afternoon at the Rothenbaum facility.
In addition, at least four more German players, including German number one Tamara Korpatsch, are taking part. Paula Badosa, the Australian Open semi-finalist, has also made it into the main draw.
However, the German duel between Noma Noha Akugue and Valentina Steiner is clearly the focus of the opening matches. „I'm really looking forward to the match. It's a bit of a shame, of course, that I'm playing against a German and that a German player will be eliminated in the first round. I'm feeling pretty good. I've had a good first half of the year and I'm trying to carry that momentum into the tournament,“ Noha Akugue said, looking ahead.
Tamara Korpatsch approaches her home tournament with the same self-assurance, where she will face Victoria Kasintseva from Andorra. The left-handed player won the Australian Open junior competition in 2020. „It’s always special to play here, to play at home. I know the venue inside and out. The first round is always tough for me. I’m definitely excited, like every year, and I’m glad to be playing on clay again. Grass is more for cows,“ said the Hamburg native with a wink.
The toughest task among the German players has fallen to Nastasja Schunk. She must compete against the top-seeded Oleksandra Oliynykova. Julia Stusek is looking forward to her Rothenbaum debut and her duel with Argentinian Nadia Podoroska, who reached the semi-finals of the French Open in 2020. „I am, of course, incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play here with a wildcard in singles and doubles. I couldn't be happier and I'm really looking forward to getting on court,“ says Stusek. The sixth German player, Tessa Brockmann from Itzehoe, will play against Elsa Jacquemot (France) in Hamburg. Further local favourites could still secure their ticket for the main draw through qualification.