Julia Görges as a social media reporter at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: "Hope the players have fun"
She has ended her active career, but Julia Görges will still be present at the 2021 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix - albeit in a new role.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Apr 09, 2021, 01:24 pm
She is absolutely at peace with herself. The decision to draw a line under your career at the end of 2020? It was obviously the right one for Julia Görges - even if they would have seen their fans on the court for a few more years. The Corona break and the long tour break over the past summer: They were a glimpse into "normal" life - one that Görges liked. And which she has not wanted to exchange since then. "I enjoy coming home and sleeping in my own bed. That's something special for me," she said in advance of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2021, which starts on April 17th.
The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix: For Görges it was "actually the start of my career," as she says. In 2011, she played herself in a frenzy in Stuttgart, taking the world number five Victoria Azarenka and the world number seven Sam Stosur out of the tournament - and in the final the number 1 in the world, Caroline Wozniacki. "Whenever I played in Stuttgart afterwards, great emotions were aroused by the images in my head."
Görges on tour: "Intense life, special environment"
This year, Görges, still a Porsche brand ambassador, is returning to Stuttgart, albeit in a new role: as a social media reporter. Görges will interview her former competitors and accompany them on their Porsche winning mission, from world number one Ashleigh Barty - a good friend and former double partner - to long-time companion Angelque Kerber. "I'm really looking forward to this task and hope that the players will also enjoy being interviewed by me," said Görges.
For the 32-year-old, the Stuttgart week is also a kind of test run, which life after active tennis may offer. Because Görges had not given any thought to her second career to date. "It's difficult to make plans for a new life when you're stuck in the middle of the old one." She wanted to take a deep breath after "a very intense life in a very special environment", after 15 years on the tour, "a long time with a lot of stress and adrenaline. It was therefore important for me to give my body and mind the necessary time give to arrive in my new life. "
The dream professional tennis player? Knows how to assess them anyway. “This business is not a honey lick”, says Görges. “From the outside, it might seem great to travel a lot and see the world. But it takes discipline and hard work to stay tuned for many years and not lose sight of your goals. For that you have to get out of your comfort zone, have to go uncomfortable ways, even if it hurts. "
Görges in Stuttgart: "Communicating everyday tournament life"
Görges was not afraid of a hole that many athletes fall into when there are no more balls to hit, kick or throw. "I knew that wasn't going to happen because I was looking forward to life after tennis."
What does this have in store? She recently gave a little foretaste on her website. Görges started a blog - with the kind request that you should be nice to her, after all, she was a newcomer. She wants to write about health and mindfulness, about current topics with a focus on women and sustainability.
Tennis: it will probably only remain connected to a limited extent. The last time she had been spotted in the stands every now and then, cheering on her friend, dual specialist Wesley Koolhof. From April 17th, Görges will take the spectators of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix with them - and give them a glimpse of their life outside the court. "We want to entertain the fans, who unfortunately have to stay at home this year, and give them interesting insights into the everyday tournament life of the stars."