Goerges makes quick work of Pe’er at Paris Open

The 24-year-old Israeli, ranked No. 37 in the world, was steamrolled by the German.

By ALLON SINAI
Shahar Pe'er 390 (R) (photo credit: REUTER/Regis Duvignau )
Shahar Pe'er 390 (R)
(photo credit: REUTER/Regis Duvignau )
Shahar Pe’er was sent packing from the Paris Open in humbling fashion on Tuesday night, being thrashed 6-1, 6- 3 in the first round by Julie Goerges in just 51 minutes.
The 24-year-old Israeli, ranked No. 37 in the world, was steamrolled by the German, with Goerges clinching the first set in a mere 16 minutes, hitting 19 winners to Pe’er’s zero.
After losing 13 straight points to end the first set, Pe’er managed to stop the rot at the start of the second, but all in all she was completely outplayed by the world No. 21, committing one fewer unforced error than her opponent (15 to 16), but hitting 31 less winners (4 to 35).
“She’s a great player and I didn’t expect such an easy match,” a polite Goerges said after the match.
Meanwhile, French Open champion Li Na retired injured from her first-round match against Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova at the Paris Open.
China’s Li, the world No. 9, threw in the towel when she was 7-6 3-2 down.
The third seed had called on the trainer earlier to treat back pain.
Also on Tuesday, former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia pulled out with a thigh strain.
Jankovic, seeded fourth in Paris, picked up the injury in a Fed Cup tie against Belgium last weekend.
“I am really disappointed not to play here,” she told a news conference. “I don’t know when I will be able to resume playing but I don’t regret having played in the Fed Cup.”
Reuters contributed to this report