US Open: Görges leaves opportunities behind, Maria loses clearly

Julia Görges loses in the second round at the US Open in New York. Tatjana Maria is also retiring.

Wimbledon semi-finalist Julia Görges was thrown out of the tournament in Flushing Meadows on an afternoon of missed chances. In the second round of the US Open, world number nine lost to Ekaterina Makarova of Russia, who had beaten her in New Haven last week. At 6:7 (10:12), 3:6 Görges (29) was the better player over long distances, but missed three set points in the first set, again at tropical temperatures in New York.

Previously, Görges’ Fed Cup colleague Tatjana Maria (31) had already retired. The 31-year-old from Bad Saulgau, who has lived in Florida for years with her husband Charles Edouard and daughter Charlotte, lost 2-6, 3-6 to the favourite Ukrainian Elina Svtolina and thus missed out on the third round at the US Open in her sixth attempt.

“I had my chances, but I was never really in the match. That’s why I’m disappointed. But she has also adjusted well to my game,” said Maria. Still in Wimbledon, Svitolina had surprisingly beaten the world ranking 70th, in New York the top 10 player was too strong. “She has no real weakness and is well on her feet,” Maria praised the seventh in the world rankings.

Thus the German hopes are all the more based on Angelique Kerber (Kiel/No. 4). The Wimbledon winner will meet Johanna Larsson from Sweden in her second round match on Thursday (6 p.m. CEST/Eurosport) at the gigantic Arthur Ashe Stadium.

On the Holy Lawn at the All England Club in July, Kerber and Görges had caused a sensation together. As a result, for the first time since Steffi Graf and Anke Huber 20 years ago, two Germans were among the top 10 on the seed list at a Grand Slam in New York. At least Görges could not meet the high expectations. After the hard-fought opening victory, she had confidently entered a duel with Makarowa.

Up to the tie-break of the first set, almost everything went according to plan. With her own serve, Görges did not give herself any nudity, at 5:4 she worked her way to three chances to lead the set, which she did not use, however. Makarowa, former top 10 player and Olympic double champion in Rio de Janeiro, took the opportunity. Although the left-hander also wobbled again and again, she turned her ninth (!) set point in the tiebreak. In the second round, a break was enough for her to enter the third round after 1:37 hours.