Julia Goerges has reflected on her long and successful career and her decision to retire from tennis during an interview to WTA Podcast.
The German player reached a career-high of world number 9 and lifted seven WTA singles titles in 17 finals and five doubles titles in 16 finals. She qualified for the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2018 and played a mixed doubles final at 2014 Roland Garros. The highlights of her career were the two Premier titles in Stuttgart in 2011 and Moscow in 2017 and the the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai in 2017.
Goerges announced her decision to retire from professional tennis on 21st October 2020, two weeks before her 32nd birthday.
“It was not a sudden decision. I have been thinking about it for a few months. The original plan was to quit around the age of 30, which is always a little bit over now, so I think I have done some extra years already. In general I have gotten to know the life besides tennis. Obviously more now due to the circumstances we are having at the moment. That also forced me a bit to see that life has also some other sides other than tennis. I have been on the Tour for 15 years and I have given up ”a lot of things which I would have loved to do. It’s also time to really spend more time with family, friends, and get away a bit from the tennis circus. It does not mean that I am out out of it completely, but just that I don’t compete anymore, which was stressful, travelling and all that stuff. I am practicing and I am doing a lot of fitness. That came to the point that I said, OK, I hang up the raquets in a professional way, said Goerges to WTA Podcast.
Goerges realized during her training sessions that she was not not enjoying her daily training on the tennis court any more.
“I have always felt the need to improve myself and to go out on the pitch every day to work hard. At one point, however, I started having fun playing for a maximum of three or four days in a row, while maybe the rest of the week I preferred not to pick up a raquet and concentrate on the physical preparation. From a certain point of view it helped me, because I hit better by playing less and I was able to recharge myself more mentally. On the other hand, however, I realized that I could not continue with this regime for the whole year, because I would not be able to reach the level I had set for myself. The level is much higher now than it was five or seven years ago, and so it would not make sense to continue just remain a top 100, because if I do something I want I want to do it 100 or 110 percent. I still want to do something else for the brain to keep staying active, because you see 24/7tennis balls. It’s all resolving around that job, which is fine, but it’s time to do something else, to be a bit creative. I think I have proven a lot of things, like coming back from a lot of rough years and really prove myself to be able to become a Grand Slam semifinalist to get into the top 10. It’ s presonally fine to close that chapter because I have always said as long as I am enjoying it, I keep doing it. But as soon as it stops, I will stop as well. I heard that sign and for me it’s fine. I went off with a big smile off the court saying: OK, this chapter is over”.
Goerges looked back to her debut on the tennis court as a young girl, when she picked up the raquet for the first time.
“I could not have really thought that I would become a professional player, if I am honest. I still did other activities, like swimming and even clip dancing. I had to decide whether I want to become a professional tennis player or not. My parents always gave me the opportunity to afford that way, which I am very thankful for. Without them, I could not have done it. I never would have thought that I would come such a long way. I think it was always a dream. I would have never thought about it when I played in that little two where I am from and the club to really come to the biggest courts in the world and playing in front of thousands of people who enjoyed you playing. It’s just great and it makes me proud of what I have achieved”.
Georges won her first big title in Stuttgart on home soil in 2011 beating Caroline Wozniacki in the final. Julia became the first German player to win in Stuttgart since Anke Huber.
“First of all, I got a wildcard because I didn’t make it into the crazy cut Stuttgart always has. I was not that low. This was not enough for Stuttgart. In the beginning of the week, I remember my mother came with her best friend and I said to her: Look at this beautiful car, maybe I will drive it down on Sunday. Then at the end I did it and she looked at me and said: What did you do ? It was actually a funny story, but I would never have thought of winning the tournament seriously. I just made a joke at that point, because it’s seemed so far away. I was a bit lucky because Vika Azarenka retired in the second round and then I fought through some really tough matches. Against Sammy Stosur in the semifinal I was 0-30 or 0-40 down at 5-5 in the third. So there were some crucial moments and I think it also keeps you a bit going in the tournament.As for the final against Wozniacki, I made some good tactical choices, and then my game always worked against her. I guess she never liked facing me, and we have had some great battles”, recalled Goerges.
