Defending Champion Goerges Leads German Women in Stuttgart

By Erik Gudris

Photo Credit: Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images

(April 24th, 2012) It was around this time last year that Andrea Petkovic was making a name for herself, not just on social media, but as the first German woman to break into the top 20 of the WTA in quite some time. Of course, it was another German, Julia Goerges, who surprised everyone including herself probably when she took home the title and the car last year at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix to the delight of the home crowd. For an event, and a nation, that had been bereft of a major tennis star since the days of Steffi Graf, the future looked bright indeed.

A year later, Germany can now boast having had at least four women reach the top 20 in the last 12 months and three of them were in action today in opening round play in Stuttgart. Angelique Kerber, who couldn't get out of qualifying last year but is now ranked No. 14 in the world, kicked off the day with an easy 6-2, 6-3 win over Italy's Roberta Vinci.

Goerges, despite a nervous start as defending champion, rose to the occasion as she took on Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. After dropping the first set, Goerges rolled through the second set and then went up an early break in the third. A serving battle ensued between both women but it was Goerges, spurred on by the crowd, who hit a final forehand winner behind the Russian to claim a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 win in over two hours.

Petkovic, playing her first WTA match in several months after recovering from a lower back stress fracture, took on another German in Kristina Barrois but managed to pull out a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 win. Petkovic later told WTA.com her thoughts on the match.

"I'm actually surprised it went so well today," Petkovic said. "I was in my rhythm tonight and played quite solid. I was very stable emotionally and mentally out there."

Petkovic now gets another test in her comeback when she takes on No. 1 seed Victoria Azarenka in the next round. Petkovic said she was ready for the challenge.

"I didn't watch a lot of tennis while I was out but I saw her winning streak and rise to No.1," Petkovic said. "I really think she's the best right now. She deserves to be No.1, and as a character and personality she's a proper No.1. It's a tough challenge, but as I said, this is why I play tennis."

Other winners from today included Sam Stosur who had no trouble against China's Peng Shuai winning 6-2, 6-2, Francesca Schiavone, who won her first match since Indian Wells with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Monica Niculescu and Roland Garros winner Li Na who took out Charleston finalist Lucie Safarova 7-6, 6-4.

Tomorrow, Stuttgart fans will watch another homegrown player who many think can enter the top 20 in young Mona Barthel when she faces Ana Ivanovic for the first time. With four countrywomen still left in the draw, local fans must still like their chances that just maybe another German will once again drive off with the white Porsche that sits just off the center court, proving once again that the country that brought us Steffi Graf is a major force to be reckoned with in the sport.