For the past few weeks, Caroline Garcia, 28, has been doing wonders.
Or rather does wonders.
This Sunday evening, the French, 35th player in the world, beat without trembling the Czech Petra Kvitova (28th) 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the Cincinnati tournament, a WTA 1000, the highest category of tournaments, immediately in below the Grand Slams.
Driven by an irresistible momentum, Garcia achieved in Cincinnati one of the finest feats of her career, becoming the first player to win a WTA 1000 from qualifying.
🏆 10 career titles
🌟 3 WTA 1000
3️⃣ 3 trophies in 2022 on 3 surfaces
✅️ Player with the most wins since June
🔙 Back in the TOP 20
📊 N°9 in race
🇨🇵 1st Frenchwoman to win Cincinnati
🆕️ 1st champion in WTA 1000 from the qualifiers
Caroline Garcia 😜 pic.twitter.com/H3mmoqe8WY
— Universe Tennis 🎾 (@UniversTennis) August 21, 2022
The Frenchwoman, in no way intimidated by what was at stake, didn't give the Czech a chance at first and then remained solid until the end, winning in 1h36.
In fact, Garcia attacked the match very hard by breaking twice to lead (4-0).
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.
Trailing 2-0, the Czech requested a medical time-out to treat her left knee.
Back on the court, she created a break point, then three more, but Garcia served well (11 aces) and defended well until the end.
She never shivered.
Except emotion, realizing hands in the face and knees on the ground, his accomplishment.
“What an incredible week.
It's hard to believe that I'm here in front of you lifting the trophy, ”reacted, Garcia, all smiles.
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 hooked the scalp of the world number 1 Iga Swiatek.
The Lyonnaise will therefore have been titled on the three surfaces in the space of three months...
Garcia is the hottest player of the summer
For her, it is also the third coronation in a tournament of this category, five years after the two triumphs of Wuhan and Beijing at the end of 2017, after which she had followed up with a semi-final at the Singapore Masters.
Kvitova, the double winner of Wimbledon (2011, 2014), however had the experience of major events for her, but she remained powerless in the face of Garcia's fury.
Eight days before the US Open (August 29-September 11), Garcia has indeed confirmed that she is the fittest 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 dismissed from her route 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.
On the strength of this performance, Garcia 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 shoes of a top seed, in jumping up the rankings.
She will be 17th in the WTA on Monday.