The Bett1 Aces tournament kicked off in Berlin on Monday and the bad luck of the 2020 season also transferred to the WTA field at this unique exhibition played at two surfaces, as the ladies’ competition opened with a retirement.
Four out of six WTA players participating in the event took the grass court on the first day. Looking gorgeous in the Asics Spring Club Tank and Skirt, Julia Goerges was doing fine in the second set against Anastasija Sevastova, but then the German rolled her ankle and subsequently retired from the match with her opponent leading 6-3 4-3.
Absolutely nothing can go smoothly in 2020! If her injury gets better, Julia will play her next match on Friday, on a hard court inside the Tempelhof Airport hangar.
The coronavirus pandemic has already made us used to seeing a racquet tap instead of a handshake at the net after matches.
Masks and gloves are also the new normal. Let’s hope we’ll associate this sight only with 2020.
In the second women’s singles match in Berlin on Monday, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova advanced to the semifinals, recording a 6-4 6-1 victory over Andrea Petkovic, who was playing her first match since last fall and a left knee surgery in February.
Kvitova showed up on her favorite surface wearing new NikeCourt whites — the Nike Fall London Tank and Skirt — that would have been launched at Wimbledon had the tournament not been canceled because of the pandemic. As for Petkovic, the German rocked Adidas’ Prime Blue collection — the Pleat Skirt in orange and Camo Tank, unique for its dramatic V back and contrasting elastic strap that connects the tank at shoulder blades.
Day 2 at the Bett 1 Aces will feature two women’s semifinals: Elina Svitolina vs. Anastasija Sevastova and Kiki Bertens vs. Petra Kvitova. Our photographer Jimmie48 will be right there to bring us exclusive photos and live coverage.
I hope Julia Goerges is okay, God bless her she is my favorite tennis player.