Presenter Ruth Hofmann at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2023: "Long, intense days - but they're worth it!"
Can't make it to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix live this year? It's a pity, but no problem - because you can be up close and personal via Eurosport, Tennis Channel and above all the in-house Porsche Tennis TV! Right in the middle is reporter Ruth Hofmann.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
Apr 14, 2023, 01:09 pm
The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2023, it will be multimedia again! Of course via the classic TV broadcasts from Eurosport, the Tennis Channel and of course via Porsche Tennis TV on the tournament website. This brings you even closer to the multi-award-winning favorite tournament of the tennis world elite!
Presenter Ruth Hofmann is also present. She is best known for her work at Sky and Sport1, especially in the football sector. Last year she acted as a spokesperson in the Porsche Arena for the first time, specifically introducing the players and conducting interviews, together with tennis expert Heinz Günthardt.
Hofmann has one more job this year, that of the behind-the-scenes reporter for Porsche Tennis TV. A tight program for the 36-year-old: shooting in the morning, then live action in the arena in the afternoon, if necessary until late in the evening for the last winner interview. "These are long, intense days, but they're worth it," enthuses Hofmann in an interview with tennisnet.com . And she raves about another one: Heinz Günthardt, once a professional himself, Steffi Graf's coach for many years, as well as a commentator and expert, especially on Swiss television. "It's great to have such a professional on our side. We work closely together and prepare our presentations together. He is very affable as a human being and his expertise is amazing!” knows Hofmann, whose own tennis skills are “manageable”, as she admits with a laugh. But who has been very close to tennis professionally for years.
"You have to be sporty on the go"
Hofmann is also responsible for the "interludes" with the audience during the change of sides when there's some fun and something to win. After the match it's time to go down the stairs to the interview. Sometimes super fast - depending on the course of the game or if a player resigns. "Then it suddenly says: 'You have to get to the square quickly!' You have to be very sporty on the road.”
Hofmann himself is particularly looking forward to defending champion Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka - also because of their experience last year, in which the two contested the final. "It was nice to follow two players throughout the week," she says. But she is also looking forward to the veteran Petra Kvitova and the young guns like Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu, “and of course always to the success of the local heroes.”
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Porsche Tennis TV shows all matches and training sessions
Porsche Tennis TV (via porsche-tennis.com) offers classic live programming starting at 12 noon during the week. Elmar Paulke will comment from Tuesday to Thursday from 5 p.m., from the quarterfinals on Friday from 12 p.m. Paulke also has guest commentators at his side - last year these included tournament boss Markus Günthardt, the sporting director and ex-winner Anke Huber and the former national coach Klaus Hofsäss. Footballer Sami Khedira could also be heard.
All qualifying and training sessions on Court 1 and Court 2 will also be broadcast via Porsche Tennis TV. Also exciting: You can always switch the camera and take the referee's perspective. Or send emojis to be displayed on the big screen in the Porsche Arena. The backstage posts with Ruth Hofmann then run between the matches.
Last year, before her first appearance at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, she was extremely curious about the atmosphere in the Porsche Arena, which is known for its knowledgeable and enthusiastic spectators. “You noticed how closely this audience feels connected to the tournament and participates in everything. And when the games got even more exciting at the weekend, it was particularly crackling.”
Of course also because the Porsche Arena was completely full. "I've been working as a moderator for years," says Hofmann. "But when you're a stadium announcer, the arena is sold out and your own voice through the arena - that's something special."
Of course, you can also follow the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix via the Porsche Tennis social media.
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