All is not lost for Caroline Garcia. If the French was beaten quite clearly by world number 1 Iga Swiatek in two sets (6-3, 6-2), she still has a very good chance of finishing second in her pool and therefore of qualifying for the semi-finals. of the Masters of the women’s circuit. “It will be a big challenge. A victory and it will be possible, a defeat and there will be no chance of getting there. So it’s quite simple, ”summarized the 6th in the WTA ranking.
Faced with the new Polish queen of the circuit, which she had managed to tame in July, Caroline Garcia did not deserve it, but lacked sharpness on the break points obtained (1/6 converted). “The score is a bit harsh. I didn’t feel like I was overwhelmed, ”analyzed the French player at a press conference. Aggressive as usual in return, the Lyonnaise – without a coach for the Masters – conceded too many unforced errors (14 against 8 for Swiatek) to hope for a decisive third round: “It was really a difficult match. She’s a very good player, very solid, who doesn’t give you a lot of space. I tried as best as I could. But she was better and took me out of my comfort zone. »
The good news of the evening for Caroline Garcia was in the other match of the group. Russian Daria Kasatkina dismissed American Coco Gauff from any chance of qualifying by dominating her in straight sets (7-6, 6-3).
The 29-year-old Lyonnaise therefore still has her destiny in her hands. If Garcia beats Kasatkina on the night of Saturday to Sunday, she will qualify for the semi-finals of the Masters, as she had done during her first participation in 2017. “Caro” then lost to Venus Williams close to the final. The Lyonnaise can still hope to do better in this 2022 edition.
