The Berlin Tennis Open is one of the most historic events in women’s tennis, with roots dating back to 1896. Over the decades, the tournament has crowned some of the sport’s greatest champions, including Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Justine Henin, and Martina Hingis, establishing itself as a prestigious stop on the WTA calendar.
Now played on the outdoor grass courts of the Steffi Graf Stadium in Berlin, the WTA 500 event serves as one of the most important Wimbledon warm-up tournaments. With a world-class field, fast grass-court conditions, and a centre court capable of hosting 4,500 spectators, the tournament offers players and fans alike a taste of the atmosphere awaiting them at the All England Club just weeks later.
Tournament Overview
The Berlin Tennis Open is one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments in women's tennis, with a history dating back to 1896. Held on the outdoor grass courts of the Rot-Weiss Tennis Club in Berlin, the WTA 500 event serves as a key Wimbledon warm-up tournament and regularly attracts many of the world's best players.
After returning to the WTA calendar in 2021 following a 12-year absence, the tournament has quickly regained its status as one of the most important stops of the grass-court season, combining historic tradition, fast playing conditions, and a Wimbledon-like atmosphere at the Steffi Graf Stadium.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Category | WTA 500 |
| Surface | Outdoor Grass |
| Location | Berlin, Germany |
| Venue | Rot-Weiss Tennis Club (Steffi Graf Stadium) |
| Founded | 1896 (current event: 2021-present) |
| Editions | 94 |
| Draw | 28 Singles / 24 Qualifying / 16 Doubles |
| Prize Money | €925,661 |
| Current Singles Champion | Markéta Vondroušová |
| Current Doubles Champions | Tereza Mihalíková / Olivia Nicholls |
Ranking Points & Prize Money Breakdown
As a WTA 500 tournament, the Berlin Tennis Open offers valuable ranking points and prize money during one of the most important weeks of the grass-court season. A strong run in Berlin can provide crucial momentum ahead of Wimbledon, with the champion earning 500 ranking points and a winner's cheque of €161,310.
| Round | Prize Money | Ranking Points |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | €161,310 | 500 |
| Finalist | €99,565 | 325 |
| Semifinalist | €57,395 | 195 |
| Quarterfinalist | €29,110 | 108 |
| Round of 16 | €15,470 | 60 |
| First Round | €11,045 | 1 |
Playing Conditions & Court Speed
The Berlin Tennis Open is played on fast outdoor grass courts that closely replicate the conditions players can expect at Wimbledon. The surface rewards aggressive tennis, with strong serving, first-strike shotmaking, and effective net play often proving decisive. The low, skidding bounce shortens rallies and places a premium on quick reactions, making Berlin one of the most important grass-court tests on the WTA calendar.
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Surface Speed | Fast grass-court conditions |
| Court Type | Outdoor grass |
| Bounce Level | Low and skidding bounce |
| Rally Length | Generally shorter points |
| Physical Demand | Lower than clay, emphasis on quick reactions and movement |
| Key Advantage | Strong serving, attacking returns, and net play |
| Player Profile Favored | Big servers, all-court players, and aggressive baseliners |
Recent Champions
Since returning to the WTA calendar in 2021 as a grass-court event, the Berlin Tennis Open has quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious Wimbledon warm-up tournaments. The event has attracted elite champions from across the WTA Tour, with each of the last five editions producing a different winner, highlighting the depth and competitiveness of the women's game on grass.
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Markéta Vondroušová | Wang Xinyu |
| 2024 | Jessica Pegula | Anna Kalinskaya |
| 2023 | Petra Kvitová | Donna Vekić |
| 2022 | Ons Jabeur | Belinda Bencic |
| 2021 | Liudmila Samsonova | Belinda Bencic |
Top 8 Seeds
The Berlin Tennis Open has attracted another elite field, with several of the world's highest-ranked players choosing the tournament as their final major preparation event before Wimbledon. Led by Aryna Sabalenka and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, the draw features a strong mix of Grand Slam champions, proven grass-court performers, and dangerous all-court players capable of making deep runs.
| Seed | Player | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | 1 |
| 2 | Elena Rybakina | 2 |
| 3 | Jessica Pegula | 4 |
| 4 | Amanda Anisimova | 5 |
| 5 | Coco Gauff | 7 |
| 6 | Elina Svitolina | 8 |
| 7 | Karolina Muchova | 10 |
| 8 | Linda Noskova | 13 |
Players to Watch
Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka arrives in Berlin as the top seed and one of the favourites to lift the title. Her powerful serve, aggressive baseline game, and ability to take control of rallies early make her a major threat on grass, where quick points and first-strike tennis are often rewarded.
Elena Rybakina
Few players are better suited to grass-court tennis than Elena Rybakina. The former Wimbledon champion possesses one of the most effective serves in the women's game, and her clean ball-striking allows her to dictate play comfortably in the fast conditions expected in Berlin.
Jessica Pegula
Jessica Pegula returns as the defending champion after lifting the title in Berlin last year. Her consistency, outstanding return game, and ability to absorb and redirect pace make her a difficult opponent on any surface, while her previous success at this venue should give her added confidence.
Karolina Muchova
Karolina Muchova remains one of the most dangerous unseeded threats whenever she is healthy and competing at her best level. Her all-court style, intelligent point construction, and willingness to finish points at the net make her particularly effective on grass, where variety can be just as important as power.
How to Watch – WTA Berlin 2026
If you’re not watching on TV, platforms like bet365 provide live streaming coverage:
How to Watch on bet365:
- Register a bet365 account
- Fund your account (minimum balance may apply)
- Go to the Live Streaming section
- Select WTA Berlin and start watching live
🔐 Note: Streaming availability may vary by region. Most platforms require an active, funded account.