French Open: Julia Görges can’t stop Serena Williams at the French Open

Julia Görges could not stop Serena Williams at the French Open 2018: The German Fed Cup player lost to the former world number one in two sets.

By Jens Huiber from Paris

In the early evening hours, half-empty grandstands are not uncommon. Serena Williams also experienced this in her second round match against Ashleigh Barty. Against Julia Görges however: Full house in Suzanne Lenglen, tense anticipation in the stands. Finally, a match at eye level was expected.

The fact that the 23-time Grand Slam winner won this after a playing time of 1:16 hours with 6:3 and 6:4 came as quite a surprise in view of the limited play practice of the US-American after her baby break.

The idea to play against Serena Williams with many stop balls is a good one. Julia Görges also followed this plan, alone: Serena brings her balls over the net with a force that is unique on the women’s tour. Getting the speed out of those bullets is almost impossible.

Nevertheless, Görges tried, played as offensively as she could, but after 31 minutes had to admit that she was not up to Serena’s serve. 6:3 for the American who defeated Kristyna Pliskova and Ashleigh Barty in her first two matches.

Serena Williams made her Roland Garros debut in 1998, reaching round four at the time, losing to Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario. Paris has never been the great love of the great American, but she has nevertheless won three titles here. The first in 2002 against Sister Venus, the last to date in 2015 in the final against Lucie Safarova.

Görges started the second set with her service, had problems for the first time in the third game and finally had to let a forehand return of Serena pass. However, the German in eleventh position immediately equalled the score at 2-2, the first break of the day for Görges.

The greatest strength of Serena Williams, however, as Daria Kasatkina’s coach emphasised in advance, is her unbelievable will to win. And so the 36-year-old took her next break.

Julia Görges could have hoped for help from above, on a summery day a dark cloud had suddenly pushed itself close to the Court Suzanne Lenglen. It stayed dry, Serena failed to serve after 76 minutes to 6:4.

The winner will now face Maria Sharapova in the round of 16 on Monday. The Russian played in great form in Paris and won against Karolina Pliskova in two sets on Saturday.