By Kate Richardson
Imagine yourself in the middle of a sweet summer afternoon filled with an intense thump-thump-thump of a tennis ball and whoops of the cheering crowd. Imagine yourself, amazed and hyped up, in the midst of the Berlin Open Championship. One of the oldest in Germany, this tennis competition attracts loads of amateurs and professional players from all over the world. If you want to know more about this major sports event, we’ve got you covered. Buckle up and letz go!
History of the Berlin Open Championship
The story of the Berlin Open started back in the 19th century in Hamburg. Amazingly, with all the changes in its structure, the competition is still one of the most well-known tennis events in the world.
Founding and Early History
Initially, the tournament was founded as a combined event for male and female players. It happened back in 1896. Since then, the competition has changed numerous names. For example, until 1914 it was called the Championships of Berlin. As years passed, it was renamed to German Championships, German Open, Lufthansa Cup, Bett1 Open, and, finally, ecotrans Ladies Open.
Key Milestones and Developments
⭐️ In 1896, the tournament took place in Hamburg for the first time.
⭐️ In 1978, the venue was changed to Berlin following reunification (technically, ⭐️ West Berlin up to 1990).
⭐️ Since 1988, the competition has been classified as a Tier I event of the WTA tour.
⭐️ Starting from 2008, the competition was on hold.
⭐️ In 2020, the event was supposed to rock the tennis season but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
⭐️ After a long-term break, the tournament was back as a WTA 500 event in 2021.
Venue and Facilities
In 2024, the competition was renamed the ecotrans Ladies Open and was held on June 15-23. Let’s review the details.
Description of the Tournament Venue
The competition takes place at the Steffi Graf Stadium in the green district of Grunewald. The stadium itself was built in 1996 as a replacement of the old stadium built in 1983 and boasts a capacity of 7,000 seats. The venue was initially called the Berlin Tennis Arena and was renamed after the tennis star Steffi Graf in 2004.
Amenities for Players and Spectators
Apart from the matches, the event also boasts an extensive music and cultural program with a large Kids festival for young tennis players, who will be involved in a whirl of games and sports. Of course, food stalls and drink booths are a part of the deal as well. Guests of the VIP section have a unique chance to network with other attendees and tournament partners while being treated to exquisite cuisine.
In 2024, the event was sponsored by ecotrans, a leading logistics company, which installed some of their trucks as stages for public viewing and autograph session booths.
Accessibility and Transportation Options
The facility can be easily accessed by public transportation. For example, you can take the № M-19 bus and debark at the stop “Gottfried-von-Cramm-Weg.” Driving your own car is a risk due to possible parking issues. There is no designated parking lot at the premises.
Tournament Format and Rules
We will get acquainted with the major rules of the competition.
Explanation of the Tournament Structure
We will review the main input details of the 2024 edition.
| Date | June 17 – 23 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Category | WTA 500 |
| Location | Berlin, Germany |
| Players | 32 |
| Prize Money | USD 922,573 |
| Official Website | berlinladiesopen.com |
Singles
A singles game is a match where two players compete head-to-head, one on each side of the court. These are the most popular matches among tennis aficionados. In the 2024 edition of the event, the singles main draw boasted a 28-player field, with the top four receiving first-round byes. A total of 18 players received direct entry, with six qualifiers and four wild cards topping the singles field.
Doubles
In a double game, the court hosts two players on each side. Such games emphasize cooperation and teamwork and are frequently considered as an individual skill and endurance test. In 2024, this section consisted of 16 teams and two wild-card pairings.
(Source: https://www.tennis.de/news/mitfiebern/2024/berlin-ladies-open-vermelden-weitere-spielerinnen.html)
Key Rules and Regulations
The WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) games are being governed by a set of rules accumulated in one guidebook. These include anti-doping clauses, gender participation policies, and anti-corruption provisions. Below is the outline of the key regulations:
✅ The WTA is an international competition open to all female tennis players.
✅ The official language of the WTA is English.
✅ No coaching is allowed during the match if it becomes a hindrance to the opponent.
✅ A player can request a 10-minute break during the match.
✅ The supervisor may suspend play in case of extreme weather conditions.
✅ Gambling platforms are not allowed to promote or accept any tennis wagers on the tournament digital platforms or websites.
However, you can always place your wagers on specialized betting platforms, such as the 1xBet tennis betting website, for example.
Integration Into the ATP/WTA Tour Schedule
ATP is actually the governing body of men’s professional tennis, so the Ladies Open cannot be part of it as a tournament for female players. However, the tournament is an important stop of the WTA tour. You can see all the information about the event on their webpage.
Notable Players and Past Champions
Past champions of the competition include top world players, such as Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Dinara Safina, Billie Jean King, and Ana Ivanovic. Historically, German ladies performed great on their home field. When the competition was carried out in Hamburg, Ilse Friedlebem won the title 6 times! In 1939, Hilde Sperling matched the record. However, the one and only champ of the competition is Steffi Graf. Between 1987 and 1996, she won a total of nine titles. By the way, the event then was held on clay. The surface was shifted to grass in 2021 only.
Highlights of Past Champions and Their Achievements
Let’s review recent champions in the singles category.
Jessica Pegula (2024)
Being one of the top female tennis players in the world, Jessica comes from a sporting dynasty of a different sort. Her parents co-own the NFL Buffalo Bills and the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres. Despite her background, she is something of a tennis workhorse and developed her sport skills to an amazing level. Jess also owns a skin care brand called Ready24 and a charity that connects future owners with rescued service animals.
Petra Kvitova (2023)
A young mom, who just gave birth and, therefore, paused her career, Petra Kvitova is a Czech left-handed tennis player. She won 31 titles on the WTA tour and two singles titles at Wimbledon. She also made headlines when she was stabbed with a knife by an intruder at her own house back in 2017.
Ons Jabeur (2022)
Ons Jabeur is a female tennis player born and raised in Tunisia. The greatest tennis player from Africa, she is known for her varied game and her positive attitude. Ons is on a temporary sabbatical due to her knee injury.
Steffi Graf
We cannot overlook Steffi Graf, who is the ultimate queen of the competition. The venue is called after her name, for god’s sake! Steffi is one of the premier tennis players in the whole world known for her powerful technique and intense play mode. She actually dominated in the women’s tennis sector in the late 80s and 90s. Steffi retired in 1999 but is still a major figure in the tennis world.
Prize Funds
Below are some digits that reflect the prize fund over the years.
| Year | Total Prize Money (USD) |
| 2008 | 1,340,000 |
| 2021 | 565,530 |
| 2022 | 757,900 |
| 2023 | 780,637 |
| 2024 | 922,573 |
Impact and Influence
Of course, an event of such scale has a powerful influence on tennis culture worldwide.
Influence on Local and International Tennis Culture
The tournament definitely has a great impact on the female tennis sector. Local players and fans feel motivated by seeing their homies play with gusto on their home field, while foreign audiences enjoy the diverse lineup and the camaraderie vibe floating around.
Economic Impact on the Region
Sporting events are often being assessed by economic impact studies. However, a certain level of scepticism arises around them. Why so? The drawing power of each event is estimated based on its ability to bring in outside tourists and encourage spendings. However, when a major sporting event draws large groups, some who would have gone as well but were unable to find lodging are unwilling to deal with crowds may be forced to leave or cancel their trips. Of course, events like the Berlin Open attract a lot of people but, on the other hand, they may be avoided by other potential visitors and locals due to high prices and lots of hassle.
(Source: https://www.chinadailyhk.com/hk/article/585988)
Media Coverage and Broadcast
The event is being widely covered by a number of media resources worldwide based on both exclusive and non-exclusive licensing rights.
Overview of Media Coverage and Major Broadcasters
The tournament is loved by the mass media. Major broadcasting companies consider the broadcasting rights the hill to die on and spare no expense to get them. For example, the 2021 edition was exclusively covered by ServusTV Germany. They got licensing rights for all means of distribution, including cable, satellite, IPTV, and mobile. After a long hold since 2008, the event was a blast! So were the profits of the event-makers and their exclusive media partner, ServusTV. The event is also being widely supported by social media stars, who post live streams and reviews of the matches. The event boasts its own social media accounts; you can find the links in the footer of the official website.
How to Watch the Berlin Open Championships
Before the start of the event it’s crucial to find out which channels will stream it live. For example, in 2024, you could watch all games live on the following channels:
- Tennis Channel (USA)
- Sky Sports (Berlin)
- DAZN (Canada)
Future Outlook and Expectations
In 2025, the competition is scheduled for June 14 — 22. The organizer is yet to be announced. In any case, the event will host top tennis players worldwide and boast exquisite services. Those interested can enroll as volunteers to get a truly enriching work and fun experience that will last a lifetime.
Conclusion
The Berlin Open has cemented itself as one of the favorite events among tennis lovers. After being on hold for a number of reasons, the competition is back on track and blooming again with an amazing lineup and broad media coverage.