Julia Goerges defeats Sabine Lisicki; breezes into the semis at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
German Julia Goerges downed her countrywoman Sabine Lisicki in straight sets on Thursday to advance to the semi-finals of the 2011 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix at Stuttgart. She registered a 6-4, 6-4 win over her fellow German.
32nd ranked Goerges took down wild card Lisicki, ranked 123 places below her, in one hour and thirty-three minutes. Goerges lost to her compatriot four years ago at Hungary but now she took her revenge and squared the
scores in their head to head series by 1-1.
The 22-year-old recently made a quarter-final berth at Charleston and defeated American Melanie Oudin in the Fed Cup before entering this WTA Premier event. She triumphed over Dutch Michaella Krajicek in the first round with a
breadstick. Goerges then earned a victory against 4th seeded Belarusian Victoria Azarenka who was forced to retire due to an injury. She then eased past the Wild Card entrant and booked her spot in the semi-finals at Porsche Arena.
Though Goerges clobbered several unforced errors and four double faults in the opening set, she managed to get a much better first serve share of 71 percent as compared to Lisicki’s 56 percent. The higher ranked also registered
an amazing 78 percent win on it and saved all three breakpoints she faced. With the only break of serve in the set, Goerges won the opener with an acceptable 6-4 score line.
She improved her form in the final set as the German clobbered zero double faults and had a higher first serve share of 74 percent as opposed to her rival’s 53 percent. Goerges earned a convincing 57 percent win on it and converted
two out of three breakpoint opportunities to her advantage to clinch the set with a 6-4 score line again. She lost her serve once but kept her momentum throughout the set to win comfortably.
"I am glad that I served well. I knew that Sabine is back on the road and has been playing well, so it was good to get a win," said the blooming Goerges.
The German is eyeing to claim the winners prize of a brand-new sports car worth 111,000 US dollars along with the winning money.
Up next for her is the fifth seed Samantha Stosur who upset second seed Vera Zvonareva in a three-setter nail biter math later that day.
The lower ranked Stosur bounced back from a set down to clinch with 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) win against the Russian. The 27-year-old saved eleven out fourteen breakpoints and converted two out of five breakpoint opportunities to her advantage
to win the match.
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