After the semi-final in Wimbledon, Julia Görges has already dropped out in the second round of the US Open.
Despite the unpleasant landing on the hard ground of her long-standing Grand Slam reality, Julia Görges had not lost her smile. Why should I? “This is not the end of the world, I have no reason to mope,” she said after the 6:7 (10:12), 3:6 against Russian Ekaterina Makarova in New York. Of course she was disappointed in her performance, “but I won’t let it get me down,” Görges said.
The 29-year-old, it’s easy to see, has found her own healthy way to deal with setbacks. The end in the second round of the US Open, bitter as it was given the missed chances in the first set, does not overturn Görges. Neither had she let the semi-final in Wimbledon, her greatest Grand Slam success by far, take her off. “I’ll probably learn more from defeat than from victory,” said Görges.
This also applies to Carina Witthöft. After all, the 23-year-old from Hamburg, whose career has stalled, experienced an unforgettable evening in the gigantic Arthur Ashe Stadium. At the 2:6, 2:6 against the great Serena Williams Witthöft had no chance, but no one can take away her “mega-experience”. “On the bright side, when we were in rallies, I could keep up. I don’t have to hide. I can build on that,” said Witthöft, who was very impressed with her opponent.
Since Tatjana Maria (31) also lost against Elina Svitolina from the Ukraine, Wimbledon winner Angelique Kerber was the last German hope for the women on the fourth day of the tournament. For the first time since Steffi Graf and Anke Huber 20 years ago, two German players were among the top 10 in a Grand Slam. At least Görges could not meet the high expectations.
Against Makarova, who had clearly beaten them last week in New Haven, a lot went according to plan in the first round. Görges had three set points, one of which was only millimetres short. “The first set was decisive for the game,” she said. Görges bravely defended himself against the turnaround in the tiebreak, even fending off eight set points, but Makarova was stronger this time.
Not a drama, as Görges assured us. “She used to be number eight in the world and was here in the semi-finals. It’s no surprise that the girl can play,” said Görges. Even before the match, she had already argued that anything is possible in women’s tennis: “Anyone can win against anyone”. Which also means, however, that anyone can lose against anyone, and this time it was the favourite Görges – at least on paper.
Her chances of taking part in the WTA season final in Singapore have dropped rapidly due to her defeat, and she will probably have to leave the elite circle of the top 10 again. Their flight has stopped, and yet Görges’ world continues to turn. “It’s about enjoying this life, because there is only one thing,” she said and smiled.