Caroline Garcia qualified for the round of 16 after her victory over Leylah Fernandez (6-4, 6-7 [5]6-1)

Caroline Garcia still worked to win. After a complicated 2nd round, the Frenchwoman again played three sets, this Monday to release Leylah Fernandez (6-4, 6-7, 6-1), in 2h13 of play. Ultra-dominant on the first set, the n World No. 5 then let the Canadian set up her aggressive game, under the sun of Indian Wells. But “Caro” did not give up and hung on until he reached the round of 16 of the American tournament. In the next round, Caroline Garcia will face Romanian Sorana Cirstea.

For her second confrontation against Fernandez, after the one at the Australian Open two months ago, Caroline Garcia showed two very different faces. First that of a boss, able to impose her tempo from the first balls of this game. The winner of the last WTA Masters broke at 2-1 and chained twelve points in a row to show that she was there. Very advanced on the court, a tactic she claims, the 29-year-old player really flew over this first round. With 93.3% of points won after his first ball (against 55.6% for Leylah Fernandez), Garcia stood out thanks to a formidable and varied service, like his powerful return.

From erased break point to steamroller

While we imagined the native of Saint-Germain-en-Laye sending the second round, the Canadian woke up. More precise on her serve, the 49th player in the world took the French at her own game. Refusing to back down on the court, the 20-year-old player let her aggressiveness speak to jostle her opponent and save an important break point at 4- 4, before pushing it to the tie-break.

All in determination, Fernandez installed doubt in the head of the 5th player in the world, until pushing her to the 3rd set. “JI was tense after this round, I had to keep this fighting spirit and I managed to put pressure on him again“, reacted “Sweet Caroline”, after the game.

Confident and able to find improbable lines, Garcia came back to dismiss the Canadian’s first and only break point in this game. After that, the French continued to take the ball early and aggressively to unroll and disgust Fernandez. A final shutout and a winning forehand definitely sealed this victory, which was not easy for Caroline Garcia but mastered when it mattered most.

The Frenchwoman continues on her way, looking for a first title in 2023. To hope to win here in Indian Wells, she will first have to get rid of Sorana Cirstea. The formidable Romanian (83rd player in the world) made short work of the American Bernarda Pera (6-3, 6-1) on Monday.