Aug 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Julia Goerges of Germany waves to the crowd after her match against Andrea Petkovic of Germany (not pictured) in a women's singles semifinal at Fitzgerald Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
(Reuters) - Julia Goerges made it through an all-German semi-final at the Citi Open on Saturday with a 5-7 6-4 7-5 win over Andrea Petkovic, setting up a title match against Ekaterina Makarova.
In a match that lasted 2 1/2 hours, fourth seed Goerges rallied from a set down, producing 10 aces and breaking Petkovic’s serve five times on the way to victory.
She will next meet seventh seed Makarova, who also had to come from a set behind to beat Oceane Dodin 3-6 6-3 6-4 and reach her first WTA singles title in over three years.
Aug 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Julia Goerges of Germany (L) talks with Andrea Petkovic of Germany (R) after their match in a women's singles semifinal at Fitzgerald Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Makarova, who moved past Simona Halep when the top seed retired due to heat in their quarter-final, found her form in the second set where she broke Dodin in the fifth game to seize momentum.
She finished with 31 winners.
“I started today a bit slower than I have to be, but in the second set I tried to step in a little bit more and to make her move, and it started working,” Makarova told reporters.
Aug 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Julia Goerges of Germany hits a forehand against Andrea Petkovic of Germany (not pictured) in a women's singles semifinal at Fitzgerald Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
“I’m so happy that finally, I finished it in my way.”
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Aug 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Andrea Petkovic of Germany hits a forehand against Julia Goerges of Germany (not pictured) in a women's singles semifinal at Fitzgerald Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports Aug 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Julia Goerges of Germany hits a backhand against Andrea Petkovic of Germany (not pictured) in a women's singles semifinal at Fitzgerald Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
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