Julia Goerges needed just 55 minutes to defeat Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-0, 6-1 to book her place in the second round of the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where she will face the winner of the match between Barbora Strycova and Tsvetana Pironkova.
Goerges Races Through Opening Set in 29 Minutes
From the word “play”, it is safe to say that Goerges was in the zone, exploding right out of the blocks and imposing her first strike tennis on Kuznetsova, who was admittedly not at her best. It was only a matter of time until the German number five drew first blood, breaking at the first time of asking to open up a 2-0 lead. However, the world number 54 was hit with one of her few roadblocks in the third game when she was forced to save two break points, but passed the test with flying colours, thus consolidating the break to go up 3-0.
Goerges didn’t stop there -- within a matter of minutes, she found herself up a double break as Kuznetsova failed to offer any resistance. Unable to counter her German counterpart’s sheer power, it was a disastrous start for the three-time finalist.
Despite holding a break point a game later, Kuznetsova was unable to convert her opportunities when it really mattered, and it was only a matter of time until Goerges consolidated the double break. From there, the German put her foot on the accelerator, racing away with the opening set to serve a dreaded bagel in 27 minutes.
Goerges Moves Into Round Two at the Loss of One Game
Picking up right where she left off in the opening set, Goerges drew first blood in the second game before consolidating the early break to lead 3-0, sending a real statement of intent, much like in the opening set. Kuznetsova, however, was able to restore some pride when she got on the board a game later but Goerges held firm, responding with a hold of her own to mount a 4-1 lead.
In the end, the deficit seemed too much for Kuznetsova to handle as Goerges broke a fifth time not long thereafter, and sealed the match at the first time of asking with a beautiful inside out forehand winner, thus completing one of the best matches of her career to date.
The Match By the Numbers
Statistically speaking, this was definitely one of Goerges’ best matches since her breakthrough in 2011. The German number five hit six aces to three double faults and 28 winners to 15 unforced errors, while converting five of her seven break points from the receiving end. In contrast, Kuznetsova hit one ace to one double fault, only four winners to nine unforced errors, and failed to convert all three of her break point opportunities. As you can see, Goerges outclassed Kuznetsova in nearly every department, while maintaining an efficiency in all areas that just couldn’t be matched by the Russian.