The red clay of the tennis courts at the NÜRNBERGER Gastein Ladies is a sharp, yet beautiful contrast to the green of the surrounding forests and the white of the Alps mountain range.

Among the stars who won their maiden titles here are Francesca Schiavone, who captured the inaugural event in 2007, and 2009 champ Andrea Petkovic. Two Austrians - Yvonne Meusburger in 2007 and Patricia Mayr-Achleitner in 2011 - have been runners-up here but none have taken the title in their home country yet.

The Czech Republic's Lucie Hradecka was victorious with four different partners from 2007 to 2011, making her the fifth woman of the Open Era to win a doubles tournament at least five consecutive times.

Bad Gastein is a spa town in the Austrian state of Salzburg, situated at the northern rim of the Hohe Tauern national park. "Bad" means "spa", reflecting the town's history as a health resort. It also is famous for its winter sports. The townscape features historic multi-story hotel buildings erected on the steep slopes.