Goerges survives big scare
Julia Goerges saved a match point to defeat Eugenie Bouchard in a thrilling quarterfinal at the ASB Classic in Auckland yesterday.
Goerges won 3-6 6-3 7-6 in just under 21⁄2 hours, with the match reaching a dramatic climax as Goerges won the tiebreak 8-6.
Bouchard had a match point when Goerges served at 5-6 in the third set, but couldn’t nail it and it was a moment that will long be in the thoughts of the Canadian.
While the wind had an impact on the match, Goerges said it was still a quality contest.
‘‘For these conditions it was a pretty good match. We both made the best out of it and overall I’m very satisfied,’’ Goerges said.
‘‘I think the best part of my game today was finding solutions, trying to find a way to come back in that third set, which I did really well.
‘‘Overall, with these conditions sometimes you can’t do something and it looks amateur, because some balls you just don’t know where they’re coming, they’re just flying somewhere.’’
Bouchard may have won her previous two matches at the Classic, but had been scrappy in both of them, with her coach criticising her attitude.
But there could be no such complaints about her performance this time.
Yes, she still made too many errors, but her play was at a level not seen previously this week.
Goerges said she was impressed with how Bouchard played.
‘‘She’s working hard and we know that she’s capable of playing great tennis, so I expected a tough match,’’ she said.
‘‘Everybody can play tennis, but what we saw today, I think she’s developed totally in the right direction.
‘‘I’m pretty sure she’s going to go right up the rankings again, but for me, it’s good to have those matches, that’s why I was looking forward to that match, to give my best and really get those battles right before a grand slam.’’
Goerges, who struggled with the wind, got out of jail by saving a match point, but she found a way to come through in the end and remains the favourite to win this year’s title.
Bouchard was forced to save two break points in the opening game of the match but she soon hit her stride.
The Canadian came out with plenty of purpose and mixed her game up well.
She showed great athleticism to reach a drop shot and secure a break for a 3-1 lead before confidently serving out the set in 45 minutes.
That was the first set Goerges had dropped at the tournament and her performance was marred by several uncharacteristic unforced errors.
The German was much better in the second set, getting an early break which she didn’t relinquish.
Goerges should have taken the momentum into the deciding set, but fell behind 3-0.
However, the defending Classic champion got it back to 3-3 and naturally the intensity on court increased.
Bouchard made two unforced errors at 4-4, to give Goerges a break point, however she survived that scare.
Bouchard then had a match point with Goerges serving at 5-6, but the German survived it, putting a second serve out wide then hitting a winner into an empty court.
Eventually the set went to a tiebreak and at the first change of ends, the score was 3-3.
But Goerges then got a mini break and had two serves up at 5-4, Bouchard went too wide with a high backhand on the first, but Goerges then mishit the ball on match point.
Goerges snatched at a return on her second match point. But a third came her way soon after and she hit the winner, putting away a volley at full stretch.
Earlier, Viktoria Kuzmova was the first player through to the semifinals after overcoming Amanda Anisimova 6-3 2-6 6-4.
The 20-year-old Slovak will play Goerges today for a place in the final.