Who would have bet on that at the start of the year?
On the night of Monday to Tuesday (3 a.m. in France), Caroline Garcia will play the Masters final against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka after disgusting the Greek Sakkari in the half (6-3, 6-2).
At 29, the Lyonnaise is facing the biggest meeting of her career and will end 2022 at the worst No. 5 in the world, at best 4th, the ranking she occupied four years ago.
Not bad when you remember that the winner of the 2019 Fed Cup, one step away from succeeding Amélie Mauresmo (the only French title holder, in 2005), was 74th in early January.
Throwback to an exceptional season...
January 18: a short tour and then goes to Melbourne
The Habs approach the Australian Open with few wins and even less confidence.
The penalty is immediate.
After leading 6-4, 4-2 and three bullets 5-2, she ended up losing in the first round against the young American Hailey Baptiste, 168th in the world and from qualifying (4-6, 7-6 , 6-3).
“I am progressing a lot on an aggressive game, it is my basic game, she explains then.
For a year, I have not played too much like that.
I find automatisms, it's complicated not to question things, but it's part of tennis and I must continue to work in this state of mind.
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March 22: worrying abandonment in Miami
After a disappointing American tour, Caroline Garcia, who had reached the semi-finals of her Lyon tournament before leaving for the USA, was forced to retire as soon as she entered the competition in Miami.
After losing the first set (7-5) against the Hungarian Bondar, she threw in the towel because of a right ankle injury.
A few days later, she announced her absence from the circuit for several weeks.
“Since February I have been suffering from a foot injury.
With my team, we decided to take a few weeks to do the care and follow an adapted protocol to allow me to return to 100% on the court, ”she explains.
June 5: winning return to Roland-Garros… in doubles
The Frenchwoman is making her comeback at the Parisian Grand Slam.
In singles, his adventure ends in the second round in front of the American Madison Keys.
The thinning comes from the double, which she won alongside Kristina Mladenovic against the pair Gauff / Pegula (2-6, 6-3, 6-2).
Six years after their first Porte d'Auteuil coronation and a few years of estrangement that followed.
“There is a lot of emotion.
We experienced this victory six years ago but I have the impression that it goes back a long time, she says.
I am very happy to have replayed with Kristina.
There is no better possible title than winning Roland Garros.
" In effect.
The coronation in Paris will serve as a trigger for the rest of the season.
KRISTINA MLADENOVIC AND CAROLINE GARCIA WIN ROLAND GARROS 😍😍
After 2016, our French women won this year over Philippe Chatrier! pic.twitter.com/IexrC2Wh9t
– Team France (@EquipeFRA) June 5, 2022
June 25: blessed lawn in Bad Hombourg
On German grass, the Rhodanienne won the 8th title of her career, the first since 2019, beating in the final the Canadian Bianca Andreescu (6-7, 6-4, 6-4), winner of the US Open 2019 , who led 4-2 in the second set.
And after saving a match point against Alizé Cornet in the semi-finals.
“You sometimes go through a lot of difficult times when you are a professional player, without winning anything, she savors.
I'm happy to lift another trophy.
A few days later, at Wimbledon, his career ended in the round of 16 after taking out the local darling Emma Raducanu (No. 10).
July 29: the world No. 1 ashore
Rising to 45th place, Garcia challenges Iga Swiatek (who has dominated the WTA since Barty's retirement) at home, in the quarter-finals of the clay court tournament in Warsaw.
For the first time in his career, the Habs offer themselves a world No. 1, who is also defending champion at Roland-Garros and undefeated for a year on the surface, in three sets (6-1, 1-6, 6-4).
And plugs a 17-year-old hole.
No Blue had beaten such a performance on clay since Mary Pierce in 2005 against Davenport at Roland-Garros.
The feat is not without a future.
Two days later, in the final, she beat Romania's Bogdan (6-4, 6-1) to lift the trophy.
August 21: The Cincinnati Kid
“Flying Caro” was already flying over the summer.
But there, strong of the team that she composes with her coach Bertrand Perret and her physio Laura Legoupil, she is squarely in the clouds at the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati, the category of events just below the Grand Slams.
Her epic in Ohio is unprecedented in the history of women's tennis.
The Lyonnaise won eight matches in nine days and became the first player to win a WTA 1000 after qualifying.
His ultra-aggressive game is wreaking havoc.
In the semi-final, she dismisses Aryna Sabalenka then largely dominates Petra Kvitova.
"The path has been crazy in recent weeks," she is almost surprised.
Since June 19, Garcia has posted 26 wins for 4 losses and three titles on three different surfaces.
No one has done better.
And the US Open is coming...
From qualifications to the title ✨🌾
Caroline Garcia wins the Cincinnati WTA 1000, one of the most titles won in her career 🏆 pic.twitter.com/1qohaF7mUS
– Team France (@EquipeFRA) August 21, 2022
September 8: Jabeur puts an end to the American dream
On its way, the n ° 1 hexagonal crushes everything in its path until the semi-final of the US Open.
For her first appearance at this level, the protege of her father Louis-Paul misses the meeting against Ons Jabeur (6-1, 6-3).
Unable to free herself from the pressure, Garcia fails to put her tennis in place against the game while variations of the Tunisian.
“There is a lot of disappointment, a little frustration, but I still went there, I produced my game even if it was horrible to take winning passings, she analyzes.
But a few years ago, I wouldn't have had that attitude.
My game, I assume it: when it works a little less well, it's a little less pretty to watch, but when it works, we've heard good things about it..."
October 19: on the way to the Masters
After the US Open, Garcia marks time.
Defeat in the 1st round in Tokyo, the same in San Diego and loss in the 3rd round at the WTA 1000 in Guadalajara, the last tournament of the season.
The premature defeat of Sabalenka however assures him of his place at the Masters, five years after his only appearance in the roller coaster at the end of the year (semi-final lost against Venus Williams).
The reward for a sensational third trimester.
Determination and pure joy 🤩💪🏻🦁🐝🎾🇺🇸
Finals at the @WTAFinals!
Determination and pure joy!
FINAL at the Masters 🤩💪🏻#FlyWithCaro
Swipe for the match point (quick one today 🙏🏻) @WTA @yonex_tennis pic.twitter.com/wqjdHKBQHo
— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) November 7, 2022
October 27: his coach slams the door
At the dawn of the apotheosis, no one had seen it coming.
Bertrand Perret, architect of Garcia's renewal since taking office at the end of 2021, decides to put an end to his collaboration with the player due to extra-sporting concerns, undoubtedly linked to the return to the fore of Louis-Paul , who has long coached his daughter.
“In recent weeks there have been problems.
They ended up spoiling the atmosphere and I preferred to stop, he reveals in the Team.
I do this job for fun and there was less.
I'm not a man of pretense and when it's over, it's over.
There was no point in prolonging it artificially.
I preferred to cut rather than tear.
“The Tricolor therefore goes to Fort Worth, in the suburbs of Dallas with his parents,
her physio and the Argentinian Juan Pablo Guzman with whom she had already collaborated last year.
We know the rest…