Tamara Korpatsch wins her home match in Hamburg. The 31-year-old tennis player claims her second WTA Tour title at Rothenbaum and climbs to unprecedented heights in the world rankings.
Tamara Korpatsch didn’t have much practice giving victory speeches on the tennis court, yet she made the perfect debut after her home victory at Rothenbaum. “Moin, Hamburg!” she called out to the crowd; she had long since won over the fans’ hearts. “I’m a little nervous,” Korpatsch admitted. Winning a title here at her home club—the second of her career—“means the world to me,” she said. That was impossible to miss.
Korpatsch had confidently won the final 6-3, 6-3 against Hungary’s Anna Bondar, who also feels right at home in Hamburg. Bondar was in the final in the Hanseatic city for the third time in a row, but Korpatsch showed no mercy: Following her 2023 title in Cluj-Napoca, she celebrated another tournament victory—and this time, in front of her family, one that could hardly have been more emotional.
Tennis: Korpatsch is Germany’s new No. 1
The Hamburg native, who slept in her own bed rather than at the official players’ hotel during the tournament week, climbs to No. 45 in the world rankings thanks to this success—her highest ranking ever.
Starting Monday, Korpatsch will also be Germany’s No. 1 again, well ahead of Tatjana Maria (Bad Saulgau) and rising star Eva Lys (Hamburg).
This would have been hard to imagine just a short time ago, even for Korpatsch herself. “It wasn’t easy to climb out of the hole in 2024 after my injuries,” said the 31-year-old, marveling: “I was ranked No. 200 in the world; now I’ll be in the top 50 next week.”
A True Family Project
Korpatsch owes her rise to her own perseverance—and her family. She never received support from the German Tennis Federation (DTB) in her younger years—despite her obvious talent. But Korpatsch never gave up.
She was supported above all by her parents, Thomas and Birgit, and her two brothers. Korpatsch thanked them all at the moment of her greatest success to date.
“My father has been my coach since I started playing tennis,” she said. “He’s there for every match; he’s always right there on the court with me.” Even without her mother, who also accompanies her on the tour—“taking care of my dog Stella and keeping my rackets in order”—this victory wouldn’t have been possible.
Once she got started, Korpatsch expanded her acceptance speech: to her brother Richie, to a friend named Garry, to her aunt.
“I’m sorry, I just can’t stop talking,” she said cheerfully. “Now the ball kids are coming.” And, of course, the fans.
“I didn’t win this title on my own,” she called out to the spectators and said goodbye in true Hanseatic style: “See you next year!”
