After qualifying, Caroline Garcia wins the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati

Driven by an irresistible momentum, Caroline Garcia achieved the greatest feat of her career in Cincinnati, becoming the first player to win a WTA 1000 from qualifying, at the expense of Petra Kvitova, Sunday in the final. The French, 35th in the world, in no way intimidated by the challenge, initially gave the Czech (28th) no chance before remaining solid until the end, winning 6-2, 6-4 in 1h36.

At the age of 28, she offers herself a third coronation in a WTA 1000, just below the Grand Slams, in as many finals contested, after her triumphs in Wuhan and Beijing in 2017. In the process, she had reached the semi-finals of the Masters in Singapore, certainly at the end of the season less difficult to understand than hard preparation for the US Open. “What an amazing week. It’s hard to believe that I’m here in front of you” to lift the trophy, reacted smiling Garcia.

This tenth title in total is also her third in two months, after those gleaned on the grass of Bad Homburg and the clay of Warsaw, where she had in passing the scalp of the world N.1 Iga Swiatek. Kvitova, the double winner of Wimbledon (2011, 2014), however had for her the experience of major events since she was playing her 12th final of a WTA 1000 (8 victories), the 40th all categories combined (29 hit).

26 wins since June

But eight days before the US Open (August 29-September 11), Garcia has indeed confirmed that she is the most in-form player of the summer, since she has now accumulated 26 victories since June. . No one is currently doing better on the circuit. The Frenchwoman, who successively pushed aside three Top 10 players in Ohio, Maria Sakkari (3rd), Jessica Pegula (8th) and Aryna Sabalenka (7th), remained faithful to her sharp style, showing an almost permanent aggressiveness.

Kvitova, former world No.2 whose qualities in defense and against are proven, had no respondent. Garcia, who now has four victories in their nine confrontations, attacked the match very hard by breaking from the start twice (4-0), under a threatening sky. The day before, two interruptions by rain of 2:30 and 1:30 had greatly disrupted her semi-final against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.

In total confidence, she maintained this advantage by relying on a solid serve, to win the first set in 40 minutes. In the aftermath, the Frenchwoman tightened the noose again, returning long and holding the exchanges. Kvitova chained unforced errors.

Troublemaker at the US Open?

Led 2-0, the Czech, who seemed to be dragging her leg, requested medical time to treat her left knee. Back on the court, she demonstrated her pugnacity, creating a break point, her fifth of the match, without more success at the end. Three others showed up, but Garcia was able to serve well (11 aces) and defend during a long rally, to further push her rival to the fault (4-2). Kvitova’s scream of rage did nothing, she fell on stronger, her rival remaining solid on her commitment to finish the job.

She never shivered. Except emotion, realizing hands in the face and knees on the ground, his accomplishment. With this convincing performance, Garcia, who is restoring some color to French tennis, can hope to play the spoilsports at the US Open, where she has never been able to do better than a 3rd round, but which she will approach in the skin of a top seed, making a nice leap in the standings.

Just like Kvitova, who has never spent quarters at Flushing Meadows. Even losing in Ohio, she confirms a return to the fore seen in mid-June with her victory on the grass of Eastbourne, after a few years that seemed to mark a decline. In a context where the world No.1 Iga Swiatek seems to be marking time, after a dizzying spring (37 victories in a row, titled in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart, Rome and Roland-Garros), they have a nice shot to play.