Interesting first round matches at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Stuttgart. The top German players Andrea Petkovic and Julia Görges have been given winnable first round matches at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. They were both pitched against qualifiers in the draw made on Sunday. If they do advance to the second round they will then face tough opposition. Andrea Petkovic, the world No. 19, could meet Jelena Jankovic, the world No 8 and the winner of the 2008 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Should Julia Görges win her first round match she will be up against Victoria Azarenka (Belarus), the current world No 5, who has recently won back-to-back tournaments in Miami and Marbella.
Two other Germans have however been matched against strong opponents in the first round: Kristina Barrois from the local Stuttgart club will encounter the Czech Lucie Safarova whilst Sabine Lisicki will play the Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova. Both Kristina Barrois and Sabine Lisicki were given wild cards for the long-established tournament in Stuttgart that once again has an exceptional line-up with seven Top 10 players in the draw.
The top seeds Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark), Vera Zvonareva (Russia), Francesca Schiavone (Italy) and Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) all have first round byes.
