Now it's crunch time – for Tamara Korpatsch and the other seven quarter-finalists at the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open. We're giving you a full preview of today on Centre Court!Today's motto is: Turn eight into four – into a fantastic quarter-final Friday!
Undoubtedly, this is no ordinary match for Tamara Korpatsch. After all, you don't reach the quarter-finals of a home tournament every day. The Hamburg-born player was already in the last eight two years ago on her home turf, but lost to Elena Gabriela Ruse at the time. Now, she aims to reach the semi-finals for the first time! Korpatsch is very confident ahead of her first-ever duel with Anhelina Kalinina and is currently focusing primarily on her own game. Her successes justify this approach: at the French Open, she reached the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, and after this week, she will be the German number one in the world rankings again. If she reaches the semi-finals today, she would, for the first time in her career, be among the top 70 players in the world. But these are all logical consequences of the good performances of „Tami“ Korpatsch in recent weeks. So, today's motto is: Do it again, Tami!
Right at the start of today's event, Anna Bondar, a lover of Hamburg in recent years, is in action. She most recently had the better of Noma Noha Akugue on Wednesday evening and still has her „final hat-trick“ at the Außenalster in sight. However, her next opponent is a tough one. Alina Charaeva has fought her way into the quarter-finals with great patience and enormous perseverance. After saving four match points in the first round against Sara Sorribes Tormo and still winning, she prevailed in the round of 16 after more than three hours against Austria's Sinja Kraus. Yesterday's rest day probably came in very handy for her.
Mayar Sherif and Paula Badosa will then meet again as old acquaintances. Just on Monday, the Egyptian and the former world number two from Spain duelled in the final in Iași – now there's a rematch in the quarter-finals in Hamburg. And Badosa has a small score to settle. In Iași, she wasn't at full strength and had to concede the tournament victory to Sherif. Despite the high workload of the past few weeks (twelve matches in 18 days), Badosa was able to regenerate well again in Hamburg, is still yet to drop a set at the Rothenbaum and had enough time after her matches to celebrate with her fans and fulfil numerous autograph and selfie requests.
The woman to beat at Rothenbaum this week is undoubtedly Oleksandra Oliynykova. Although the Ukrainian had to go the full distance in her two matches so far, she was always there when needed. Now it's also up to her to recharge her batteries for her match against Elina Avanesyan from Armenia. „Of course I'm tired. I'm still going to physio and to get a massage, and I really need to rest well; the next match awaits tomorrow,“ Oliynykova said, quickly looking ahead to her next challenge. And it's a tough one: Avanesyan is playing her best WTA tournament of the year and has already celebrated her fourth consecutive victory in this tournament, including qualifying. With her very consistent baseline play and great mental strength, she also unnerved Yulia Putintseva on Thursday. Will there be another surprise today?
Match Of the Day
Age: 31
Born in: Hamburg, Germany
World ranking position: 81
Greatest success: Third round at Roland Garros (2026)
Age: 29
Born in: Nova Kakhovka, Ukraine
World ranking position: 57
Greatest success: Finalist at the Rome Masters Tournament (2023)
They’ve done it! The German duo Nastasja Schunk and Julia Stusek have reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 MSC Hamburg Ladies Open. After winning the first set (6–4) against the Spanish pairing Leyre Romero Gormaz and Sara Sorribes Tormo and then levelling the match (4–6), the outcome was only decided in the end in the match tie-break – with the young Germans coming out on top. Julia Stusek, who secured her first WTA main draw victory at Rothenbaum, thus remains on course for further success. Schunk and Stusek face the third-seeded pair Anastasia Detiuc (Czech Republic) and Irina Khromacheva today (in the second match after 12 noon) on Match Court M2.
Tamara Korpatsch and Noma Noha Akugue, in turn, had little to oppose Zhibek Kulambayeva (Kazakhstan)/ Darja Semenistaja (Latvia) in the doubles. The duo from the north had to admit defeat in two sets with 3:6, 3:6.
The German champion has celebrated a successful debut at the Hamburg Wheelchair Open! Britta Wend reached the quarter-finals on the opening day of the largest German women's wheelchair tennis tournament at the Hamburg Rothenbaum facility. Wend won on Match Court M1 against Lucy Shuker from Great Britain by 7:5, 6:1 and will now face French Open finalist Xenia Chasteau from France. Katharina Krüger was eliminated by Jinte Bos from the Netherlands. However, Wend and Krüger are both still active in the doubles today. Play on Match Court M1 begins at 10:30 am.
Following her quarter-final qualification, a special reception awaited Mayar Sherif. Dahlia Abdel-Fattah, the Egyptian Consul General in Hamburg, visited the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open and congratulated the most successful Egyptian tennis player of all time on her achievements.
Anyone thinking of the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open should inevitably also think of Anna Bondar. The „Rothenbaum specialist“ has repeatedly impressed with her performance in recent years. In 2024, she crowned herself with the double – a statement to all competitors. In 2025, the Hungarian again reached both finals, but lost both times this time.
This year, the 29-year-old is once again successfully competing at Rothenbaum and is currently well on her way to returning to the top four. In the quarter-finals today, she faces Armenia's Alina Charaeva, 117th in the world rankings.
Even away from the courts, Thursday morning started sportingly. The Kaifu-Lodge invited tournament ambassador Andrea Petkovic and sports enthusiasts to a Kaifu yoga session. The group started the day full of verve and good spirits.
In the afternoon, the Kaifu-Lodge stand in the Public Village tempted visitors with a prize wheel and great winnings. Anyone still looking for a gym in Eimsbüttel should definitely pop into the Kaifu-Lodge in the heart of Hamburg!
While every point is fought for on the court, one person usually remains in the background. They receive no applause, no trophy, and yet their work is crucial in making peak athletic performance possible in the first place.
Christian Günther is a wheelchair technician for the Hamburg Wheelchair Open. „If a player has a problem with their chair, I'm always the first point of contact to solve the problem, replace a part, repair it, or carry out maintenance,“ explains the 43-year-old. This way, he ensures that the athletes can concentrate fully on what really matters: the sport. Whether it's a new tyre or a bearing replacement, Christian is well-prepared in his small workshop near the Player Centre.
„The wheelchair isn't rocket science,“ he explains modestly. And yet, there's plenty that needs consideration. „I'm a perfectionist. In the end, like with a big jigsaw puzzle, every detail matters. If you neglect something, it can make a big difference.“ Thus, the wheelchair technician always has a clear goal in mind for his work: to support the athletes as best as possible. His motto is: „There's a better solution for everything. You can make every detail a little bit better.“.
He keeps a steady hand, despite the tournament hustle: „Logically, it's about time. But things just take as long as they take.“ Nevertheless, he's aware that every second counts: „It's completely clear. If I'm not finished, then things won't move forward,“ explains the 43-year-old.
For parasport, Günther, who supports the German wheelchair basketball players in addition to the tennis players at Rothenbaum, hopes for more attention and enthusiasm in the future. „Until five or six years ago, I myself hadn't had any contact with parasport either. Since I have, I've been fascinated.“
He sums it up perfectly: „It's also a professional sport and the athletes are just as professional as everyone else who participates in professional sport. It's fascinating what the para-athletes achieve.“ With a smile, he concludes: „May the best one win.“
There was plenty on offer at the EDEKA Ladies‘ Day at the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open: exclusive prize draws, autograph sessions and a visit from the HSV women’s footballers set fans’ hearts racing. Also in attendance was Olympic champion and former Team Germany beach volleyball player Laura Ludwig, who also took part in the EDEKA coin toss on Centre Court.
Women's power as far as the eye can see: As part of the EDEKA Ladies‘ Day, the HSV's female Bundesliga footballers visited Rothenbaum along with managing director Eric Huwer.
Alongside tournament ambassador Andrea Petkovic, footballing skills were demonstrated at the EDEKA Match Kitchen in the Public Village with a game of football tennis. Special guests Anhelina Kalinina and Alina Charaeva also enthusiastically joined in.
Today at Hamburg's Rothenbaum, everything is centred around inclusion! Under the motto „Tennis for all,“ athletes from Special Olympics, who were at the Saarland a few weeks ago, have been invited along with the Alexander Otto Sport Foundation. And that's not all: in a Meet & Talk, alongside a wheelchair tennis athlete, athletes from Special Olympics Hamburg and representatives of Hamburg disability sports will be present.
And off you go! The Points Pass isn't just fun for kids; tournament ambassador Andrea Petkovic and tournament director Sandra Reichel didn't need asking twice either. Anyone eager to take on mini-challenges can pick up a Points Pass at the information desk and collect stamps at the designated stations. Your skills can be put to the test at six locations (Mercedes, MSC, Lego, Tierpark Hagenbeck, Puzzle Rally, and an obstacle course). Have fun!
Angelica Bernal and Charlotte Fairbank, who are competing at the Hamburg Wheelchair Open, visited the Airbus stand in the Public Village on Thursday. Dirk Thalheim, Design Office Engineering at Airbus, showed the two players the new invention ‚U Suite‘ – which allows passengers to travel in their own wheelchairs for the first time. Those interested can discover this interplay of self-determination and respect above the clouds at the Rothenbaum grounds until Sunday.
Up to and including today, all tennis fans can watch the matches on the M1 and M2 outer courts free of charge.
Ground tickets are available at the box office. We look forward to seeing you at the Rothenbaum!
The MSC Hamburg Ladies Open will be broadcast in Germany on Sky.
Do you have nothing planned for Sunday? Then head to Hamburger Rothenbaum! Before the singles final (12 noon), Martina Hingis and Andrea Petkovic will face each other in a show match.
Tickets for the final day are also valid for the show match and can be purchased from the online ticket shop. Children and young people up to the age of 16 have free entry on the final day.
Would you like to learn more about the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open and Hamburg Wheelchair Open, and expand your knowledge about the top stars and rising hopes? Then grab a free copy at the Info Point! Clicking the button will also take you to the online version of our programme booklet.
