The Hologic WTA Tour returns to Europe next week as the European clay-court season gets underway at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

This year, the WTA 500-level tournament features eight of the Top 10, including defending champion Iga Swiatek, two-time runner-up Aryna Sabalenka, along with recent tournament champions Ons Jabeur and Elena Rybakina. 

Here's what you need to know about Stuttgart:

When does the tournament start?

The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is played on indoor red clay at the Porsche Arena, the tournament features a 32-player singles draw and 16-team doubles draw. The Wilson Roland Garros ball will be used.

Now in its 46th staging, Stuttgart once again features a standout field with a high entry cutoff at No.24. 

Main-draw play begins on Monday, April 17.

When are the finals? 

The singles final will be played on Sunday, April 23 at 1 p.m., with the doubles final to follow.

Stuttgart: Swiatek captures title with 23rd straight match-win

Who are the defending champions?

World No.1 Iga Swiatek is set to return to the Porsche Arena to try and defend her title. Seven women have been able to successfully defend their titles in Stuttgart, the last being Angelique Kerber's back-to-back wins in 2015 and 2016. Last year, Swiatek won the title on her tournament debut, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-2 to win her fourth consecutive title of the season.

In doubles, Demi Schuurs and Desirae Krawczyk defeated Coco Gauff and Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4.

Who is playing?

Fifteen of the Top 20 are set to play Stuttgart, including eight of the Top 10. No.10 Petra Kvitova withdrew after the draw was made on Sunday. 

Top 8 seeds:

1. Iga Swiatek
2. Aryna Sabalenka
3. Ons Jabeur
4. Caroline Garcia
5. Coco Gauff
6. Elena Rybakina
7. Daria Kasatkina
8. Maria Sakkari

Along with Swiatek, two additional French Open champions will be in the mix, with Barbora Krejcikova and Jelena Ostapenko ready to go. 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu has received a main-draw wild card.

What does the draw look like?

With Kvitova's withdrawal, American Alycia Parks is into the main draw as a lucky loser to face Zheng Qinwen in the first round. 

For a full analysis of the draw, click here. 

What is the prize money and ranking points on offer?

First Round: 1 point/$8,320
Round of 16: 55 points/$11,600
Quarterfinals: 100 points/$22,800
Semifinal: 185 points/$43,323
Final: 305 points/$74,161
Champion: 470 points/$120,150

Also awaiting the winner is a Porsche Taycan Turbo S Sport Turismo.