ZCZC
BSP-16
TENNIS-WTA-NZL,LEAD
Goerges beats teen sensation Andreescu to retain Auckland crown
AUCKLAND, Jan 6, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Julia Goerges drew on her experience to
retain the WTA Auckland Classic title Sunday as she came from a set down to
end the stunning run of Canadian teen sensation Bianca Andreescu.
There were tears from the 30-year-old German in an emotional celebration
who took the match 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 with the final point coming when an
Andreescu forehand went into the net.
“This win means a lot to me because not everything was working well in the
beginning,” said the 30-year-old Goerges who needed all her experience and
patience to recover from being down 4-5 in the second set after losing the
first.
“I used my experience today and really went for it in the important
moments. My coach came at 5-4 and helped me find some solutions,” she said.
The ice-cool Andreescu had stunned the tennis world during the week having
arrived in Auckland ranked 152nd and needing to play in the qualifying
tournament to make the main draw.
The 18-year-old then beat three top 50 players on her way to her first WTA
final including former world number ones Caroline Wozniacki and Venus
Williams.
Her form continued into the final when she raced through the first set and
recovered from an early service break in the second to lead 5-4 when her
concentration wavered.
“A 5-4 in the second set it was really hard for me to stay in the moment. I
was ‘oh my god I’m one game away from winning this tournament’,” Andreescu
said.
“But Julia dominated from that point.”
Andreescu broke every serve by Goerges in the first set, at one stage
leading 4-0 before dropping her own serve twice.
But the wily Goerges, 30, was not finished, and the momentum began to shift
when she broke the Canadian at the start of the second set.
Although she dropped her own serve at 4-4, Goerges gathered herself to
break Andreescu again at 5-5 and held serve to take the set.
She broke three more times in the decider to claim her 15th WTA title.
Although the final set was all Goerges the German said Andreescu deserved
praise for the way she had played in only her fourth WTA tournament.
“Bianca gave me a hard time today, she played some terrific tennis,
different tennis to a lot of players on the tour,” Goerges said.
“I’m pretty sure we’re going to hear a lot in the future from her.”
BSS/AFP/RY/1540 hrs