5 reasons to believe Caroline Garcia can win the US Open

5 reasons to believe Caroline Garcia can win the US Open


Caroline Garcia Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic / PANORAMIC

Full of confidence, the Lyonnaise is playing the first quarter-final of her career in New York, tonight against Coco Gauff. And she can dream of seeing far.

In the footsteps of Amélie Mauresmo and Marion Bartoli

After outclassing Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-4 and Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-1 without conceding a single break point, the 17th in the world pulverized Bianca Andreescu (6-3, 6-2), then mastered without shaking Alison Riske 6-4, 6-1 in the round of 16. In total, Caroline Garcia conceded only 20 games in four matches (2.5 games per set on average) and spent 5:10 on the court. A perfect start to the tournament without conceding a single set. In the past, Amélie Mauresmo in 2006 and Marion Bartoli in 2013 qualified for the quarterfinals under the same conditions before winning Wimbledon. What if history repeated itself for Caroline Caroline Garcia at the US Open?

She plays the tennis of her life

Confidence at half mast, she had started Roland-Garros in 79th place in the world, her worst ranking since 2014. Ancient history. With 27 victories to her name for only four defeats and three coronations on three different surfaces (clay, grass and hard), Caroline Garcia has simply established herself as the best player in the world for three months. Victorious in doubles at Roland-Garros with Kristina Mladenovic, she also won on the grass of Bad Homburg and the clay court of Warsaw, knocking down world number 1 Iga Swiatek in the process. Winner of the Cincinnati (Ohio) tournament in August, she was the first player to win a WTA 1000 out of qualifying. With eleven consecutive victories, she regains the level she had in October 2017, when she had two titles in Wuhan and Beijing. She finds a game worthy of the 4th world rank she was in 2018. She even seems stronger today.

His attacking game pays off and scares his opponents

Under the leadership of her coach Bertrand Perret, ex-accomplice of Paul-Henri Mathieu and the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, the Lyonnaise has set up a resolutely aggressive game since last December. And it pays since this summer. Aggressive, forehand and backhand, the French number one also knows how to defend very well. Because it must be said that she is finally 100% physically. Back and foot injuries, which have plagued his game and his confidence in recent years, seem like distant memories. "I feel much better physically. We managed to heal physical glitches that had plagued me for several years. I can retrain. The priorities in the work are turned towards the style of play in which the whole team believes. Inevitably, it clarifies my ideas and it gives me a clear and clear path".

She will not have complexes against Coco Gauff

Cori Gauff leads two to zero in her matchups with Garcia. But Alison Riske, punished in two sets by the French in the previous round, had never lost against the 17th in the world in three confrontations. Tense at the start of the match, the Lyonnaise quickly freed herself against Riske before unfolding her attacking tennis. Coco Gauff knows what awaits her: "I think she's playing the best tennis she's played in a long time. It will be a challenge. When you play against these players who are on the rise, it's more of a mental challenge. Just gotta accept that she's gonna hit some great shots, 'cause I know she will".

Let It Go

No Frenchwoman has ever triumphed in the Big Apple and, since Mary Pierce in 2005, none has gone to the final. Caroline Garcia can change the game. So much so that the bookmakers now place her as the second favorite for the title on Saturday, behind the current boss of the circuit, Iga Swiatek, and ahead of the American Coco Gauff, whom she finds in the quarterfinals this night. The Frenchwoman walks her smile the court even after a lost point, and seems serene in front of the media. In the past, not very comfortable with external solicitations, the Lyonnaise seems to assume today and goes on to win victories with obvious pleasure. "Every game is a joy“, she confided after her victory in the round of 16 against Alison Riske. Confirmation expected tonight.


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