WTA Elite Trophy: Görges starts mission title defence with defeat

Julia Görges started her mission of defending her title in Zhuhai with a defeat and has to fear for a place in the semi-finals of the WTA Elite Trophy.

Two days before her 30th birthday the world rankings-14th lost with 2:6, 6:4, 4:6 against the Estonian Anett Kontaveit (WTA-No. 20). After 2:04 hours a forehand mistake by Görges ended the game. She must now win her second and final group match against Elise Mertens of Belgium, number 13 in the Ranking, in two sets in order to reach the semi-finals of the “B-World Cup” for the second time in a row.

Australian Open semi-finalist Mertens won the duel with Kontaveit 6-3, 6-1 on the first matchday. Görges had secured his victory in Zhuhai in 2017 with a final coup against Coco Vandeweghe (USA). It had been her “most important title” so far, said the Regensburg native who has been elected these days and said: “The fact that I can be here again means that I have played a constant year”.

Görges, who last won the event in Luxembourg, had a weak start against Kontaveit and did not find a rhythm at first. Jule” had to give up her first service game and was trailing by 1:4 a little later after a double break.

At the following On-Court-Coaching her trainer Michael Geserer said: “You still play with the handbrake. “See that you work for your punches, find your way into the sentence.” Görges heeded the words and from then on acted more courageously – characteristically also at the returns. The reward wasn’t long in coming. The Wimbledon semi-finalist used her third break ball to score 2:4.

However, this was not yet the desired turnaround, because Kontaveit remained constant not least in service, while the German number two had not yet reached its usual level of performance. After a volley that was too long she had to accept the third break – and a little later she lost the first set after 33 minutes.

Görges left the court and came back with new courage. In the immediate aftermath, she became the dominant player in Zhuhai Stadium. A 4:1 lead was evidence of this.

The 29-year-old was unlucky when she slipped on her way to the net shortly afterwards and fell on her right hip. After a short ice treatment she was able to continue playing and got the second run afterwards deservedly with 6:4.

Görges could take the momentum with him and work his way up a fast 2-0. But Kontaveit (22) immediately made up for the deficit. The preliminary decision in set three was made when the German lost her serve to 3:4 after a distorted forehand. And this in the ominous seventh game.

The Estonian, coached by experienced Briton and Murray father-in-law Nigel Sears, did not miss this chance and gave Görges a false start in the last tournament of a very strong season.