The Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart is famous for offering an unusually illustrious bonus to go along with the prize money for winning the title. The winner gets to drive off in a brand new Mercedes-Benz, a novel way of attracting some of the world’s top players.

Clay court events have dominated the ATP Tour over the past couple of decades after the main European swing which culminates in the French Open at the end of May, there’s a more low key circuit which stretches intermittently through the continent from July to September.

ATP Stuttgart is one of the first stops on this circuit for many players. Like some of the other German tournaments, it has known better days. For the best part of 18 years until 2008, the tournament was given what used to be known as ATP Championships Series or ATP International Series Gold Status, placing it on a level just below the Masters 1000 events. Until 2006, the Stuttgart final took place over best of five sets.

As a result, Stuttgart has an illustrious honours board. Clay-court kings Rafael Nadal and Bjorn Borg have claimed the title, along with Ivan Lendl. Andre Agassi, Thomas Muster (who won it back-to-back between 1995 and 1996), Gustavo Kuerten, Alex Corretja and Guillermo Coria. All in all, the Spaniards and Argentines have dominated of late, winning seven of the titles throughout the ‘Noughties.’

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