Nice words can be heard every day at the Bad Homburg Open. Whichever player is asked for her impressions is full of praise. World number one Iga Swiatek from Poland felt a little Wimbledon flair at the tournament in the Kurpark, Canadian Leylah Fernandez noticed many smiling people on the facility, Tatjana Maria from Bad Saulgau found “the atmosphere was great” and spoke of “one of my favorite tournaments”.
The friendliness of the tennis ladies often culminated in the announcement that they would be happy to come back to the Kurpark next year, where the grass is the same as in Wimbledon and everyone can prepare for the season’s highlight in a pleasant atmosphere. “We are proud that the players and fans accept it so well,” said tournament ambassador Angelique Kerber in an interview with the FAZ. “It’s perfect when we experience it and get feedback like this.”
But it could be that the best time of the Bad Homburg Open is over. That the words of the top players will not be followed by deeds. That in future, despite all the starting bonuses, they will avoid the Taunus city. Which is not due to the organizers in the oasis of well-being, but to those up there: the ladies and gentlemen from the professional association WTA. In the middle of the spa park idyll, the news burst during the week that the WTA wants to structure its tournament calendar differently from next year. The drastic plans were sold as “an exciting new strategy” intended to ensure “sustainable long-term growth”. In fact, the new calendar will have winners and losers. Unless plans change, the latter will probably include the Bad Homburg Open.
Noticeable devaluation of the Bad Homburg Open
In short, the WTA significantly upgrades the larger tournaments – i.e. those in the so-called 1000 and 500 category – while the smaller 250, which also includes the Bad Homburg Open, noticeably degrades. If a 500 tournament and a 250 tournament are held at the same time, like this week in Eastbourne, England, and in Bad Homburg, the players from the top 30 are generally obliged to compete in the higher category competition. Exceptions only apply to the defending champion, the best domestic player and a lady who is between the world rankings 11 to 30.
The tournaments in the 250 category will “have a stronger regional focus,” the WTA announced this week. This is primarily intended to support “the next generation of stars”. Which would mean for the Bad Homburg Open that, unlike the previous three editions, they could offer fewer train numbers in the Kurpark. This does not meet the demands of the organizers and the tennis fans who flock to the facility in their thousands every day.
Thomas Klemm, Bad Homburg Published/Updated: , David Lindenfeld, Bad Homburg Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 4 Florentine Fritzen Published/Updated: Recommendations: 3 David Lindenfeld, Bad Homburg Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 1
Efforts are being made behind the scenes to ensure that the Bad Homburg Open retains its special status. They are closely associated with the All England Club of Wimbledon, the contract for hosting runs until 2024 and is to be extended at the request of those involved. “There is no better preparation a week before Wimbledon,” said three-time Grand Slam tournament winner Kerber of the FAZ. “You play through here because you have matches. At Wimbledon everyone is fighting for a training place this week, you only get half an hour and sometimes even have to share the place. Only when you’ve won Wimbledon do you get an hour alone.” In addition, the grass pitches are in excellent condition. “I tested them myself. Our greenkeeper, who comes from Wimbledon, does a really good job there,” said Angelique Kerber, who feels so comfortable on no other surface and triumphed in Wimbledon in 2018.
Iga Swiatek had to give up without a fight
In the past few days, not only Kerber, who is pausing after the birth of her daughter Liana at the end of February, and the active players have been convinced of the flair in the Kurpark, but also the key decision-makers. WTA boss Steve Simon, who praised the women’s tour as “a product of the highest quality”, was in attendance, as were representatives from the All England Club. You could see for yourself how well the Bad Homburg Open is organized and how diverse the supporting program is. It is said that the distinguished visitors were quite impressed. The WTA may give in and allow the Wimbledon preparatory tournament to retain its special status. It can help that the players praise the Bad Homburg Open over the green clover.
However, Iga Swiatek cannot savor the flair to the very end. The 22-year-old announced on Friday that she could not compete in the semi-finals after a feverish night due to possible food poisoning or an infection. Thus, the Italian Lucia Bronzetti entered the final on Saturday without a fight. “I hope we’ll see each other again next year,” Swiatek said in parting. wait and see
