World Sport News

Fed Cup player Julia Görges made a successful start to the grass court season at the WTA tournament in Birmingham. The 29-year-old from Bad Oldesloe won her first round match against the Greek Maria Sakkari 6:4, 6:4.

In the round of 16, Görges will now face last year’s finalist Ashleigh Barty (Australia) or French qualifier Oceane Dodin.

Görges is the only German at the high-calibre preparation tournament for the highlight of the grass court season in Wimbledon at the beginning of July. The match against Sakkari was the first match since Görges lost to US superstar Serena Williams in the third round of the French Open.