A HIGHLY successful player on both the WTA Tour singles and doubles circuits, Julia Goerges retires with a flurry of titles across the two Tours and ultimately finished her career at the top of her game at age-31, still within the top 50 as of 2020. Having consistently remained within the top 100 since 2008 and peaking at number nine on the world rankings in 2018, Goerges at times held a top 15 ranking in both the singles and doubles showcasing her ability to adapt and adjust and real longevity in her skill, continuously growing. 

In her October retirement announcement on social media, Goerges reflected on her learnings throughout her career and continued pursuit to go one better than the last chance.

“I learnt how to deal with the toughest losses but also enjoy the most amazing wins of my career, to fight back many times when I was struggling with you and through it all we never lost sight of our dreams.”

A player with an excellent serve and threatening forehand, Goerges’ career may not have been the flashiest but certainly saw continued development in her game, creating herself as a formidable and resilient player on both the singles and doubles circuits credit to her well-rounded ability and work-rate. 

Having reached her peak ranking just two seasons ago and remaining a threatening player since then, there is no doubt the German could have continued her career with plenty left in the tank, but, as Goerges told WTA Tennis on the WTA Insider Podcast in late-October, there needed to be a 100 per cent focus every day to compete, which the German says has been waning.

“if I do something I do it 100 per cent or 110 per cent… I think that I’m not capable of doing it without 100 percent focus. I would have loved to do it, but I also see the other side of life, which makes me feel a bit, ah no, I want to see the other part too.

“I think I’ve proven a lot of things, like coming back from a lot of rough years and then really prove myself to be able to become a Grand Slam semifinalist to get into the Top 10.

“I think people, I know they still think I could have achieved more, especially in Grand Slams. I’m happy with what I’ve achieved because a lot of tough losses also made me the person I am now.”

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Julia Goerges – Career Summary:

Wins: 479
Losses: 337
Win-loss percentage: 58.7%

Grand Slams: 

Titles: 0
Runner-up: 0
Wins: 60
Losses: 51
Win-loss percentage: 54%

Singles Career Titles: 7

2 –  Auckland (2018, 2019)
1 – Bad Gastein (2010), Luxembourg (2018), Moscow (2017), Stuttgart (2011), Zhuhai (2017)

Doubles Career Titles: 5

1 – Bad Gastein (2012, w/Craybas), Copenhagen (2010, w/Groenefeld), New Haven (2015, w/Hradecka), Portoroz (2009, w/Uhlirova), Seoul (2010, w/Hercog)