Julia the Jewel in Stuttgart

Last week it was Rafa Nadal continuing to be the nemesis of David Ferrer, this time in the Barcelona final.  Both are in fine touch as the French Open nears.

Watch out Top Ten!

However far more interest surrounded the WTA event in Stuttgart where rankings counted for little.  Number 3 seed Italian Francesca Schiavone was dumped in her first match, leaving the defending French Open champion in a trough of erratic form.  Then again, last year's Roland Garros triumph came on the back of a first round loss in Stuttgart, second round loss in Rome and third round loss in Madrid.  Number 2 seed Vera Zvonareva once more failed to overcome Sam Stosur despite taking the first set in their quarter final.

Number 4 seed and hottest player around Victoria Azarenka retired from her match with Julia Goerges when leading by a set after her shoulder played up - hopefully just precautionary action.

Of the favoured players only top seed Caroline Wozniacki proceeded through the draw unscathed - until she met Julia Goerges in the final.  4 German girls had made the quarters - a delight for local fans.  Goerges comfortably accounted for Sabine Lisicki before knocking out 5th seed Stosur in the semis, serving up a storm and hitting a multitude of winners.  Hard to imagine this girl outside the world's top 30.

Then  her greatest ever performance - a brilliant final against Wozniacki, a girl 20 months her junior but clearly not in tennis terms.  A tight first set went to a tie break where Goerges went on a charge winning it 7 points to 3.  The straight sets win 7-6 6-3 shot the German girl into the top 30 and into discussions about who may challenge on the clay in the lead up to and for the French Open itself.