Ash Barty wins big in Stuttgart, takes home new Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

A day after her 25th birthday, Aussie Ash Barty was gifted with several well-earned presents. Not only did Barty become the first Australian to win the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix singles final by beating Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 but also secured the doubles title immediately afterwards with tennis partner Jennifer Brady (USA).

After her singles win, Barty was presented with her 68,570 Euros ($107,090 AUD) winner's cheque and a brand new Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo which is worth around $270,000 AUD.

The electric Porsche wagon is based off the carsales COTY finalist, Porsche Taycan sedan but is a higher-riding with enhanced practicality, all-wheel drive and traction-boosting Gravel driving mode. The car will on on sale down under in the third quarter of 2021.

Of the two finalists, Aryna Sabalenka got off to a better start in the singles final. Playing powerfully and with lots of courage, she rewarded herself by taking the first set. While tournament favourite, Ash Barty had to recover from losing the first set, just like in the quarter and semifinals. It however was no big deal for the world’s best women tennis player. She began countering her opponent’s aggressive game and world number seven started making mistakes.

In an almost record-breaking 20 minutes, the Australian first levelled the match at one set all and was then 3-love up in the third. Sabalenka forced her way back into the match, reduced the deficit to 3-2 and put everything into warding off the looming defeat. Barty however remained cool, and the Belarusian’s power attacks that gave Simona Halep the feeling the day before in the semifinal that she was being “run over by a locomotive”, all came to nothing. After one hour and 47 minutes, the Australian clinched the match with her second match point.

“I’ve heard so many fantastic things about this tournament and I have to say that they’ve all been confirmed, even in these difficult conditions. I’m so happy to have been able to come here,” said Barty who has now claimed her third WTA title of the season after previously winning the Yarra Valley Classic and the Miami Open. “Porsche has put on a great event in this fantastic arena, it’s no wonder that it has an unbelievable main draw field.”

After winning the title at the 2019 French Open, the triumph in Stuttgart is only her second tournament win on clay. She is the first reigning world number one to win the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix since the Belgian Justine Henin in 2007.

Barty had little time to recover after the singles victory ceremony as she had to go back on the court for the doubles final together with American Jennifer Brady – and triumphed once again. Alongside the prize money, the winning doubles team also each received a TAG Heuer watch.

Will be interesting to see whether Barty will bring the Porsche Taycan Turismo Cross back home with her. The 25-year-old tennis ace is currently a Jaguar Australia ambassador.

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