Julia Görges followed Angelique Kerber and Andrea Petkovic into the third round of the French Open. Germany’s number one defeated Belgium’s Alison Uytvanck 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) in a very close match. Superstar Serena Williams (USA) is now waiting for Görges in the duel for the leap into the round of 16.
After almost two hours, Görges turned her first match point. This is the first time since 2015 that Dominka Cibulkova (Slovakia) have beaten the world rankings in the third round of Paris. Three years ago, the last sixteen was the final destination – it was their best result so far at the second Grand Slam event of the year in the French clay court metropolis.
“It was a very difficult match for me. It was a great victory, and I am proud to be in the next round,” said Görges at Eurosport and was fascinated by the atmosphere in the stands: “It is often more comfortable on the smaller courses, because there can be just such a mood. I’m very grateful.”
The Görges team experienced a moment of shock when the 29-year-old took a medical break at 4:3 in the first set – and even the tournament doctor had to come to court. The physiotherapist treated Görges lying on her stomach for three minutes – in the neck area. “It cracked during the recording and I took some painkillers,” said the Fed Cup player.
But this did not dissuade her from the road to success and despite the problems she seemed highly concentrated. With the next two changes “Jule” let the Physio come again. While Budapest winner van Uytvanck managed a service winner at the first set point of Görges, the player from Regensburg, who won the second set point, ran round her backhand and was successful with a return to 7:5.
Originally scheduled as the fourth game on Court 1, the game was moved to Court 3 at short notice to escape the darkness. It quickly became clear that both players had very similar playing facilities: strong serves, a forehand beaten with a lot of topspin – and the will to act variably. Ingredients for a handsome encounter in the sunset.
After losing the first round, van Uytvanck showed her qualities and immediately relieved Görges of the service game. In terms of own service, the number 46 of the WTA ranking proved to be as strong as an ox. At the score of 3-4, the German missed a break chance when, disturbed by a call from a spectator, she hit a slight volley into the net – and shortly afterwards threw her bat.
Van Uytvanck then demanded the warning by the chair referee, which had not taken place and was also anchored in the rules, as the Görges racquet was broken after the breakout. The German was visibly annoyed by the (controversial) reaction of the Belgian woman. And played all the better with the rage on his back. Jule even broke to zero at 4:5. Shortly afterwards, the Auckland winner, who won 34, was rewarded with her entry into the third round.
Paris was not always a good place for Görges. Not least because the native of Bad Oldeslo at the Bois de Boulogne is always plagued by hay fever. This time, however, the complaints were not quite as bad as their physiotherapist and friend Florian Zitzelsberger revealed these days. Good conditions for “Jule”…