Birmingham-
Germany’s Julia Goerges powered her way into just the second grass-court final of her career and her first ever final at the Birmingham Classic as she defeated comeback kid Petra Martic 6-4 6-3.
Goerges had previously talked about the threat the Croatian poses on any surface due to her impressive variety off the ground and menacing serve. On paper, then, it looked to be a difficult match for the resurgent Goerges. Particularly because Martic had nothing to lose after saving five match points against Jelena Ostapenko, somehow living to fight another day. That sort of escape can often make a player extremely dangerous, as it relieves the pressure they might otherwise be feeling.
But fortunately for Goerges, for the majority of the match, it was firmly on her own racquet. There were spells where Martic really tested the baseline movement of the German with some aggressive play of her own, but she ultimately proved unable to sustain it. She regularly tried to attack into the Goerges forehand to leave the 30-year-old’s weaker backhand vulnerable. But slowly but surely the German was able to take control of the match with her forehand.
With that shot firing, she was able to make her opponent run and run, whilst using her powerful first serve to set up the points when she was at the line. And when the German’s serve is at it’s deadly accurate best, she’s an unbelievably tough opponent to face on any surface. On a fast grass court, where her groundstrokes skid through the surface, she can be particularly effective, but she also has the power to blast through opponents on slower surfaces too.
Because Goerges was the player dictating proceedings throughout, it came down to her execution on the day. And, aside from a slight stumble from a set and a break up from which she quickly recovered to break back twice, she looked composed throughout, deservedly sealing a 6-4 6-3 win.
‘Ah, it feels great. I think overall I can be very happy with the way I played today. I’m very solid, good serving and trying to make it as hard as possible for her,’ Goerges explained. ‘I feel actually a little bit better. I must say especially body-wise I feel very good but also with the way I’m playing, I think it has a little bit, a bigger impact and effect on the opponent, what I’m having at the start of the year.’
Goerges also spoke about the matchup against Barty in the Birmingham Classic final. Describing what she needs to do, but also what she expects from her opponent in terms of shot selections of the day:
‘Well, as I already mentioned, it is not a big secret of playing each other since we practice all the time together. I just try to play my game being aggressive and doesn’t really focus too much on the opponent because it’s up to myself, it is in my hands, and I can only control what I can do and not what my opponent is doing. So I just focus on being the same what I did the last three matches, or four matches here.’
‘Well, I think both of us just focus on ourselves and there is not a big secret of playing each other if you practice that much already together,’ she continued, ‘and, as I mentioned, I said I’m going to be aggressive. She knows that I will be aggressive. I know there are a lot of slices coming and some volleying, good serving, and producing some good angles, so there is no secret about it and she knows what I’m going to do, I know what she is going to do (smiling).’
Finally, Goerges was asked whether the crucial win over the Australian at last year’s event in Birmingham will be a factor in their next meeting:
‘Well, maybe it’s in the back of the head a little bit, but she beat me on hard court, so there’s not — every match starts from zero. It’s a new chance for both of us tomorrow and just the better one should win.’
This week in many ways has been very special for Goerges. Last season she put together a career-best season, breaking the top 10 for the very first time and making the semifinals at Wimbledon, where she had previously struggled throughout her career. But she’s had to contend with injuries and a dip in form since. The neck problem she sustained earlier on in the season affected her confidence and her trust in her serve. But that seems to be firmly behind her now and she can now look ahead to a second grass-court final and the chance to win the eighth title of what has been an excellent career.
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