Inspired Caroline Garcia goes from Cincinnati qualifier to champion
Caroline Garcia (FRA) celebrates winning the womenÕs final match against Petra Kvitova (CZE) at the Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. (Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports)
Caroline Garcia capped a long week by beating Petra Kvitova 6-2 6-4 to claim the Cincinnati Open title on Sunday and become the first qualifier to win a WTA Tour 1000 tournament.
After battling through qualifying, Garcia beat three top-10 world-ranked opponents, Maria Sakkari, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula, on the way to the final where she delivered a master class against Czech Kvitova, the twice Wimbledon champion.
Leading the WTA Tour in aces and second in break points saved, the 28-year-old Frenchwoman relied on her big weapons to clinch her third title of the season, sending down 11 aces and saving all eight break points she faced.
Since coming back from a foot injury in May, Garcia has won three events on three different surfaces, on clay in Warsaw, where she beat world number one Iga Swiatek, grass in Bad Homburg and hardcourt in Cincinnati.
“It’s hard to believe I am standing here today it has been such a week,” Garcia told the Centre Court crowd. “I saw something today that it was your (Kvitova) 40th career final and I was like OK, imagine that.”
Under threatening skies Garcia got out to fast start with a break helped by a pair of double faults by Kvitova, as the 32-year-old once again struggled with her serve.
In her semi-final she served three double faults in the opening game to gift Madison Keys an early break before fighting back for a three sets win.
But there would be no escape against Garcia who piled on the pressure with a second break to sweep the opening four games.
Garcia carried on in the second set as she again broke Kvitova at the first opportunity and held for a quick 2-0 lead when Kvitova called for a medical time-out.
Kvitova returned to the court with no noticeable strapping but Garcia was not be distracted, holding serve the rest of the way to clinch her 10th career title.
