She did it; she went to get that first victory of her career! After losing three previous finals in lower category tournaments, it was important to Caroline to put an end to these “hard-to-digest” defeats as she confides to us.
The young 19-year-old French player, who was a semi-finalist last year, enters the match with a very solid game, just as offensive; rigorous footwork and a determined attitude. She wins the first set 6/0. But one had to count on the comeback of the young 19-year-old Ukrainian, Maryna Zanevska, who was ranked 519th a year ago, now 182nd, and who is having an extraordinary week as a lucky loser from the qualifiers and knocked out the tournament’s top seed, Romina Oprandi, the 48th ranked player in the world, in the semi-final.
She breaks at the start of the second set, commits fewer unforced errors, to win it 6/4. Despite some gestures of frustration from Caroline Garcia, she knows how to refocus, stay positive and offensive to break early in the third set. She maintains this lead to win the final set 6/3, closing the match with a very serious final service game.
Caroline Garcia falls to the ground at the announcement of the umpire “game set and match,” then goes crying into the arms of her mother and her coach father. A family victory accompanying her since her very young age. Congratulations Caroline, who at 19 enters the big leagues by winning this 16th GDF SUEZ open in Cagnes-sur-Mer!
