Goerges focused on happiness, not numbers

DOHA — At the start of this month, Julia Goerges quietly cracked the Top 10 for the first time ever. Despite it being a huge goal of hers, the Qatar Total Open quarterfinalist is staying grounded, focusing on hard work and happiness.

"It's nice to have reached the goal to be in the Top 10 because I can make a check behind it and no one is going to ask me if I will reach it," the 29-year-old said on Thursday. "I'm a little relieved and I can just work and try to improve myself."

From when she started her career in 2005, Georges rose steadily up the rankings each season, finishing inside the Top 20 in 2012. But a loss of form pushed her all the way outside of the Top 100. By 2015, Georges realized she needed to make a big change.

"My potential is not really there yet and I would like to get better," Goerges said about that time period. "I thought, OK I need to hear a new voice and a new team to restart. I think that was the biggest thing because I see my life on the tour a little bit differently than I have before. I'm enjoying it much more."

The German parted ways with her longtime coach Sascha Nensel and begin working with Michael Geserer.

"When you are young and you come on tour, you want to win mostly everything," Goerges said. "You don't really see what tennis brings you and what it really gives you in your life. To see different cultures and play in front of big crowds, yes, but actually also to enjoy it and really live it the way you want to live it."

Her new team, which also includes physio Florian Zitzelsberger, has helped her turn her career around.

"I didn't quite live it the way I wanted to live it and I wanted to be happy," Goerges said. "For me, now, it's perfect and I have to say thanks to my team because they are very positive guys and they taught me how it should be to enjoy this job."

Goerges would win two titles in 2017 (Moscow and Zhuhai), finishing at a carer-high of No. 14. She then added Auckland to her trophy haul in January, and crack the Top 10 at the start of February. But for Georges, her life doesn't revolve around numbers.

"I'm not the biggest talker about numbers and rankings," Goerges said. "The main goal is to really become the best player I can be with my abilities. I don't know where it brings me to, it has brought me far already."

Follow Nina on Twitter @ninapantic1.

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