Caroline Garcia did not hold out. The French number 1, 23rd in the world, led 6-3, 2-0 against Emma Raducanu, but was unable to resist the return of the Briton, who won 3-6, 6-3, 6 -2, Friday. At the end of the first day, France and Great Britain are 1-1 in this qualifying round of the Billie Jean King Cup.
Garcia seemed perfectly on course to bring France a second point. Faced with a Raducanu far from being on the street, the Lyonnaise flew through the debates, won the longest rallies and managed to push back the small obstacles that stood in front of her: a break at 4-3, break points to save . Every time, she made the right choices. Up 6-3, 2-0.
Impressive Raducanu in return
Raducanu, falling to 302nd place, decided to advance on the opponent’s second balls and take risks on the return, while managing to find length on the forehand. A profitable choice: she got back to 2-2 before flying through the second set while Garcia, “caught up by the tension” according to her captain Julien Benneteau at the microphone of BeIN Sports, saw her percentage of first balls drop and her rounded ball become tense and less dangerous for his opponent.
And it didn’t work out for the Frenchwoman in the last round. She offered her throw-in to the winner of the US Open 2021 at 1-1 on a big forehand error, seemed annoyed and more in physical difficulty – perhaps exhausted by the length of certain exchanges – and ended up by giving in, let go by his service. Garcia is the highest-ranked player beaten by Raducanu since Beatriz Haddad Maia (13th) at the WTA 1000 in Indian Wells last year.
On Saturday, Garcia is expected on the court against Katie Boulter, largely beaten (6-2, 6-0) by Diane Parry on Friday, unless Benneteau decides to start Clara Burel. Then, if the announced compositions are respected, a duel would take place between the two winners of this Friday: Parry and Raducanu.
