Singles, doubles standout Goerges retires at 31

Julia Goerges reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2018.
File photo by Paul Bauman

   Julia Goerges, who reached career highs of No. 9 in singles and No. 12 in doubles, announced her retirement today. 

   The 31-year-old German ended her career with a second-round loss to compatriot Laura Siegemund in the French Open three weeks ago and with a ranking of No. 45. 

   In a letter addressed "Dear Tennis," Goerges, the women's doubles runner-up in the 2013 Bank of the West Classic at Stanford with Darija Jurak of Croatia, wrote on Instagram: "When I started playing tennis at the age of five, I would never have thought that we would go such a long way together.

   "You have given me so many different types of emotions throughout our journey and I am very thankful for everything you have shown and taught me. 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."

   Goerges won seven singles and five doubles titles on the WTA Tour and amassed $9.9 million in career earnings. By reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2018, she advanced at least to the round of 16 in all four majors in singles. Goerges also advanced to the mixed doubles final in the 2014 French Open with Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia.

   Goerges was one of eight German women to crack top 10 in singles — with Sylvia Hanika, Bettina Bunge, Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, Stefanie Graf, Anke Huber, Andrea Petkovic and Angelique Kerber — and one of three to reach the top 15 in singles and doubles with Graf and Kohde-Kilsch. 

   "Julia's powerful playing style, exemplary sportsmanship and thoughtful nature made her a fantastic ambassador for women's tennis and a fan favorite around the world," WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon said in a statement. "On behalf of the WTA family, I congratulate her on her wonderful career and the contributions she will leave with our sport and wish her every success and happiness for the future. She will certainly be missed."