A lot has changed for Caroline Garcia since she last played in the final of a WTA 1000 event at the 2017 China Open.
At the time she was one of the Tour’s top-ranked players who was once famously backed by Andy Murray to reach world No.1. Garcia was a regular top 20 player up until 2019 before experiencing a lull in her career. Between 2020-2021 she didn’t play in any finals and only reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam once in seven attempts. At the start of this season, she was ranked 74th in the world and was then sidelined from action during the spring due to a foot injury.
Things started to turn around for Garcia in her home country where she clinched the French Open doubles title with Kristina Mladenovic. After that victory, she said ‘In tennis you have to take everything you can, a title in WTA, it’s something very big. In Slams, it’s even bigger. You never know when you are going to come back, and you really have to enjoy it and take all the positive you can.’
Since Roland Garros, the 28-year-old has once again established herself as a force to be reckoned with. On the WTA Tour, she has won more matches than any other player since June with titles won in Bad Homburg and Warsaw where she defeated world No.1 Iga Swiatek. Now at this week’s Western and Southern Open, she is a win away from clinching her biggest singles title in almost five years.
Garcia, who is currently ranked 35th in the world, defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 in her semi-final match on Saturday. In doing so she has become the first qualifier to reach the title match of a WTA 1000 event.
“First, to be in the final of a 1000 event after so many years, and the scenario of today was just unbelievable,” Garcia said of her rain-interrupted match against Sabalenka. “We had to stop a few times. We never know when we will come back. It was a long wait, and in the wait you never know what you are supposed to do, so it was tough.
“I’m very happy with the last preparation for the comeback at 3-1. I was really ready for every point. It made the difference.”
Sabalenka is the third seeded player to fall to Garcia in Cincinnati. Earlier in the tournament, she also scored wins over Maria Sakkari and Jessica Pegula. The Frenchwoman is now on a seven-match winning streak.
“It’s a long way to come from quallies,” she said.
“It’s one match at a time. Try to take the best from every single match and really improve through the tournament. (It) feels like I have been here for a long time, I have to admit. I know the site pretty well now but I kind of enjoy it and it’s really nice to be in the final again.”
Awaiting Garcia in the final will be Petra Kvitova who herself knows what it is like to experience tough times during her career. The Czech missed a chunk of the Tour after an intruder broke into her apartment and ended up having her hand badly hurt by a knife whilst she was trying to defend herself. Kvitova underwent surgery soon after that incident which enabled her to return to tennis.
“It’s nothing comparable to what Petra has been through,” Garcia said of her battles. “She’s a champion on and off the court. She never complains about anything. She’s always very respectful to everyone, working for the tournament, on tour with other players.”
Kvitova secured her place in the final with a marathon 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3, win over Madison Keys. It is the 12th time in her career she has reached the final of a WTA 1000 tournament and she is projected to rise up the rankings to at least 20th on Monday.
“I know when she’s on fire she’s really on fire,” Kvitova said of playing Garcia.
“I think she is kind of an aggressive player like me or Madison (Keys). She is really serving well and going for every shot.’
“It will be mentally tough, as well. I will be focusing on the serve and just try to wait for some chance if that comes.”
Garcia trails Kvitova 3-5 in their head-to-head.
