Laura Siegemund opens her Stuttgart Open campaign on Monday against Magdalena Frech after cutting back her schedule and arriving early in Stuttgart to prepare in peace. The German number one said she is feeling solidly ready for the weeks ahead, even after a preparation period shaped by physical problems and the lingering effects of a back injury from Wuhan.
Siegemund said she played fewer tournaments this year than last and that reducing the workload was her goal. She said she needed more recovery after the events she did play, and that the decision to keep her rehabilitation going after Miami was meant to avoid unnecessary risk before the clay season.
The 38-year-old, who won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in 2017, called the event one she will never treat like any other. “Der Porsche Tennis Grand Prix wird für mich immer ein ganz besonderes Turnier bleiben,” she said, adding that the tournament itself is unlike any other in the world. That familiarity matters this week because Stuttgart has long been one of the rare places where Siegemund’s name still carries the weight of a past title and local expectation.
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Frech, ranked No. 39, is not the sort of opponent who gives away points easily. Siegemund described the Pole as very solid and consistent, saying she makes few mistakes and handles long rallies well. That leaves the German with a clear task on Monday: take the initiative early and shape the rallies actively rather than let them settle into Frech’s rhythm.
Her physical management has also shadowed her wider season. Siegemund said her withdrawal from the Billie Jean King Cup in Oeiras was for physical reasons only, and that she always wants to play those matches. She also argued that young players need to be introduced to the national team earlier, a view that fits the broader strain around Germany’s run in the competition, where the team dropped to third-tier regional Group II.
For Stuttgart, though, the immediate picture is simpler. Siegemund says she has her situation under good control and feels prepared for what comes next. If that proves true on Monday, the player who once lifted the title here will again turn a careful season into something more dangerous on clay.
