When your first automobile is a Porsche, you realize you’re doing one thing proper. That’s precisely the case for Elena Rybakina, who received a Porsche Taycan 4S Sport Turismo final yr by capturing the WTA 500 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart final yr. On the time, there was only one catch—she didn’t have a driver’s license.
Quick ahead to 2025, and Rybakina can lastly benefit from the experience. She’s now a licensed driver, proudly cruising in her Porsche. However regardless of the full-circle second, she received’t be returning to Stuttgart this yr to defend her title, citing a scheduling battle after serving to Kazakhstan qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
The world No. 10 Rybakina advised reporters after defeating Kim Birrell 6-3 7-6(4) within the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers in Australia:
“Driving going pretty well. I got my license… I did preseason in Dubai. So I’ve been going around with the team. I was dropping and taking everybody… So I was kind of a driver.”
“Driving going pretty wheel.”
Look out for the Rybakina Porsche cruising on a highway close to you 🏎️#BJKCup pic.twitter.com/gN3iBUA1WP
Regardless of now being absolutely licensed—and little doubt ready for the enduring post-win victory spin on the courtroom—she’s skipping the 2025 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix attributable to a battle in schedule. After enjoying on arduous courts in Australia to assist Kazakhstan qualify for September’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, there merely wasn’t sufficient time to transition to European clay.
With the Stuttgart occasion kicking off on Monday, Rybakina can’t make it:
“I know that the schedule overall is very packed, and it’s not easy to even schedule Billie Jean King Cup. But ideally, if we go to one part of the world, it will be nicer to play the same part. Now, for example, the clay court [season] starts and [some have] already played even tournaments on clay. So to come back and play hard, it’s a bit tricky. And ideally, if there is a tournament, it’s better to schedule it closer to where we want to be.”
As a substitute of Stuttgart, Rybakina’s subsequent match would be the Madrid Open, which begins on April twenty second. The Kazakh ought to then additionally play the Internazionali BNL d’Italia earlier than going to the French Open.
Held on the Porsche-Area since 2006, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix has developed into a serious occasion on the European clay-court swing, serving as a key warm-up for Roland Garros. The 2025 version incorporates a stacked draw, with 11 of the High 20 gamers within the WTA Rankings confirmed to compete. The prize up for grabs? A candy €142,610 and, sure, a brand-new Porsche Macan Turbo.
