nacho garcia
Sports Writing (USA), 7 Nov. The French Caroline García is the new champion of the WTA Finals after beating the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka on Monday in two sets by 7-6 and 6-4 in Fort Worth (Texas. USA).
It was a new historical page for French tennis, which once again sees one of its tennis players lift the trophy of the masters tournament. Amélie Mauresmo did it for the first and only time in 2005. Caroline García thus surpassed another historical figure like Mary Pierce, who reached the final but failed to win it.
Sabalenka and García faced a major challenge, and for the first time two tennis players who had never played a Grand Slam final stepped foot in the final match of the WTA Finals. Both knew what it is to reach the semifinals, but never fight for one of the most important titles of the year.
The match offered a first set with 56 minutes of great tennis by both players, two great servers who were clear that losing their serve would put them in trouble. The two protected their turn and not a single break ball was played in the entire first set.
Thus they reached 6-6 that forced the tie-break, with a very inspired, brave Sabalenka, showing aspects of the game that she is not used to applying regularly, such as going up to the net.
The ‘tie-break’ and the first set was won by Caroline Garcia, taking advantage of the Belarusian’s only moment of weakness so far. A double fault shot the Frenchwoman up to 6-2, and after a small comeback to 6-4, another double error on serve sentenced Sabalenka.
It was a real show at the service of two tennis players who boast of being among the best servers on the circuit. Sabalenka’s power in the face of García’s precision allowed a total of 15 aces to be seen throughout the match, with eleven of them signed by the Frenchwoman.
In the second set, the Belarusian was psychologically touched, a set that could have been won by anyone, escaped her due to her own mistakes and had its influence at the beginning of the following period. She promptly lost the first two games and gave in for the first time the kick out of her.
It was Garcia’s moment, knowing that the most complicated thing had already been achieved by winning the service to his rival. In this way, she played with great calm and confidence, without taking risks and trying to be practical.
Sabalenka fought it out to the end, taking the second set to 5-4. Caroline García served to win and did not fail. She was proclaimed champion of the WTA Finals.
Monday’s game gave continuity to two streaks, a positive one for García, who had won all his finals played until then and added one more. On the other hand, Sabalenka still hasn’t prevailed in a match to define the champion.
Caroline Garcia received the champion trophy from the hands of former American tennis player Chris Evert and, emotionally, thanked Sabalenka for her competitiveness.
“Thank you for being such a good fighter and putting so much intensity into every point. You bring a lot of energy to the court and it’s a pleasure to see you, a lot of people have enjoyed watching you play today. It’s great to have your energy on tour,” she said.
Caroline García closes the season with a victory that places her in fourth position in the world ranking, while Sabalenka does so in fifth place.
The Frenchwoman closes her season in 2022 lifting her fourth tournament of the year after having done it in Bad Homburg, Poland and Cincinnati, in addition to the Ronald Garros doubles in May with Kristina Mladenovic. EFE
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