By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, September 30, 2017
First-set turbulence struck Caroline Garcia, who failed to serve out the set in today’s Wuhan final.
Garcia was flying high when it mattered most.
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Ashleigh Barty served for the match twice, but a resilient Garcia rallied to her fourth career title with a 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-2 triumph in the Wuhan final.
It is Garcia’s first title since the 2016 Mallorca on grass and the biggest championship of her career.
The 20th-ranked Frenchwoman collected the champion’s check for $487,245 and is projected to rise to a career-high rank of No. 16 on Monday.
Thumping a series of heavy serves, Garcia closed in two hours, 41 minutes and celebrated extending her arms like wings and racing around the court as if flying.
“A title is the best thing you can have in tennis,” Garcia said afterward. “Big one, small one doesn’t matter. That’s what you fight for all year long. I can’t describe how I feel right now. Over the moon for sure.”
Contesting her third final of the season, the 37th-ranked Aussies served for the title at 5-4 and 6-5 in the second set. But Barty’s nerve and Garcia’s unrelenting play got the best of her.
“It’s disappointing today,” Barty said. “I left it all on the court it, gave it a real crack, it just wasn’t meant to be.”
Garcia applied immediate pressure earning a pair of break points in the opening game. Barty fended off the threat, working through a 20-point, eight-and-a-half minute hold.
Four games later, the 23-year-old Frenchwoman broke through. Garcia curled a crosscourt forehand pass for triple break point. When Barty nudged a slice into net, Garcia had the first break and a 3-2 lead.
Powering through a strong hold at 15, Garcia won her third straight game for 4-2.
In the eighth game, Garcia faced break points for the first time and answered with authority. Pumping her fourth ace down the middle, Garcia fired a forehand crosscourt erasing both break points navigating a hold for 5-3.
Serving for the set, Garcia flagged a forehand into net to face two more break points. Pausing for a crying baby, Garica spun an ace wide then handcuffed the Aussie with a high backhand. Barty put a return right back at the server’s feet for a fifth break point, but Garcia saved it with a forehand down the line. Facing a sixth break point, Garcia netted a backhand as Barty broke back for 5-all.
Shrugging it off, Garcia broke right back at 15 in the 11th game. Serving for the set for a second time, Garcia double faulted the break away.
Composure was key to the tie break. Barty kept calm, while tension crept into Garcia’s right arm. Garcia double-faulted to donate the mini break on the third point, missed a return and netted a forehand. Driving her slice down into the court, Barty drew another forehand error for four set points.
When Garcia’s forehand failed again, Barty took the 64-minute opener snapping the Frenchwoman’s streak of 10 consecutive sets.
The pair traded breaks in the first four games of the second set. Hitting stinging serves, Garcia denied break points holding for 3-2.
Managing stress was a challenge for both players down the stretch.
Holding the ball on her strings, Barty whipped a forehand down the line for two more break points then drained an error breaking for 5-4.
Coach Craig Tyzzer came out urging Barty to use her legs to push up on serve, hit the kick serve on first serve and make every point matter.
“Trust your game. It’s all there. You got this mate, right here,” Tyzzer told her adding, “Tigers!” as an inspirational parting reference to Barty’s favorite Aussie Rules football team.
Garcia wasn’t done. She pasted a forehand in the corner breaking back to level before Barty scored the fifth straight break to serve for the title again in the 12th game.
Scattering a slice wide, Barty capped a sloppy, nervy game gifting the love break. The eighth break of the set set up the tie break.
A forehand down the line helped Garcia go up 3-1 in the tie break. Barty, who had served effectively throughout the tournament, felt the jitters double faulting to face set point then sprayed a forehand as Garcia forced the decider.
Producing the right blend of aggression and consistency, Garcia broke for a 2-1 lead in the final set and slid a backhand pass to back up the break.
The 5-foot-5 Aussie used the kicker to set up her first strike in victories over seventh-ranked Johanna Konta, 13th-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska, former No. 1 Karolina Pliskova and reigning Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko. Garcia wisely altered her court positioning, often stepping inside the baseline to take the kick serve early as she converted eight of 16 break points in the match.
"It was such a fight all the week and it was a pleasure to share the court with Ashleigh," Garcia said. "She is a great competitor, it’s a pleasure for me to have her on tour. She’s one of the nicest players on tour. I’m sure we will have many more fights."
Garcia dipped a low backhand pass cracking the 14th break of the match for 5-2.
Thumping a series of heavy serves, Garcia closed with control earning her 41st win of the season and delivering the trophy as a belated birthday present to father and coach, Louis Paul, who celebrated his birthday a few days ago.
“Actually, I didn’t buy a gift, so I can’t do better,” Garcia said with a smile.