Angelique Kerber defended her Luxembourg Ladies Tennis Masters crown on Sunday, defeating Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer 6-4, 6-2 in the final at the Coque arena. The former world No. 1 became the first two-time winner of the eight-player invitational, collecting €50,000 from a total prize fund of €110,000.
Kerber takes control in the title match
Kerber’s route to a second consecutive title included a reunion with Monica Puig, the Puerto Rican who beat the German for Olympic gold in Rio. Kerber overcame Puig in the quarter-finals before eliminating another former world No. 1 contender, Agnieszka Radwanska, in the semi-finals.
In the championship match, Kerber handled Wickmayer in straight sets, using the familiar indoor setting and a full crowd to complete another successful week in Luxembourg.
- Champion: Angelique Kerber
- Runner-up: Yanina Wickmayer
- Final score: 6-4, 6-2
- Winner’s prize: €50,000
- Total event purse: €110,000
- Format: eight-player competitive exhibition
Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden presented Kerber with the trophy after the final.
“I almost feel at home here — perhaps I should relocate to Luxembourg,” Kerber said with a laugh. “The event is wonderful, and having packed stands matters enormously to us. We can feel the crowd’s energy and the competitive spirit from 20 years on tour. We are also showing the next generation that mothers can still do it. That makes it very special.”
Wickmayer’s comeback run ends in the final
Wickmayer was appearing in Luxembourg for the first time after ending her professional career in the summer of 2025. The former world No. 12 had earned her final place through two tight match tiebreak victories.
- On Friday, Wickmayer beat Petra Kvitova, who had returned to competition less than seven months after giving birth to twin daughters.
- On Saturday, she edged Alizé Cornet, the previous year’s finalist, in the semi-finals.
- Kerber stopped her run in Sunday’s final.
“I can hardly put into words how much I enjoyed being back on court,” Wickmayer said during the runner-up presentation. “Playing these outstanding players again and seeing them after some time was really special. Most of us are mothers now and our lives have changed, but coming together on court, competing fully and enjoying the battle is so nice.”
Elsewhere in the draw, Radwanska beat France’s Tatiana Golovin in straight sets in the quarter-finals, while Cornet also advanced in straight sets against Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova.
A Luxembourg tradition continues
Luxembourg had hosted a popular WTA Tour tournament for 25 years, known among players for its close-knit atmosphere. Its champions included six former world No. 1 players, with Kim Clijsters winning the WTA 250 event a record five times.
In 2022, tournament director Danielle Maas and International Women’s Tennis Promotion introduced the Masters format, preserving the event’s connection with elite women’s tennis through a prize-money exhibition for former stars.
- 2022: Kim Clijsters defeated Martina Hingis in the inaugural Masters final.
- 2023: Anett Kontaveit beat Andrea Petkovic for the title.
- 2024: Kirsten Flipkens overcame Hingis in the final.
- Current edition: Kerber became the first player to win the tournament twice.
The event also presented its Jana Novotna Award at a gala dinner before play began. This year’s honouree was Luxembourg’s Anne Kremer, who won WTA titles in Auckland and Pattaya in 2000 and reached a career-high ranking of world No. 18 in 2002.
The award recognises commitment to women’s tennis in Luxembourg and internationally, reflecting the values associated with the late Czech champion Novotna. Over five editions, the Luxembourg Ladies Tennis Masters has established itself as a gathering place for former WTA players, with the competition offering both a high-level draw and a platform for its players’ continuing influence on the sport.
