By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, July 31, 2022
Caroline Garcia broke serve five times sweeping Ana Bogdan 6-4, 6-1 in the Warsaw final for her ninth career title and second of the season.
Photo credit: Getty
Rocking rhythmically a few feet from the service line, Caroline Garcia's return position was a danger dance for Ana Bogdan.
A dynamic Garcia delivered reprimanding returns rolling to her ninth career title with a 6-4, 6-1 sweep of Bogdan in today's Warsaw final.
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Garcia broke serve five times and flew through the final five games soaring to her second title of the year.
Last month, Garcia conquered compatriot Alize Cornet and 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in gritty three-set wins to capture the Bad Homburg title on grass.
Today, Garcia capped a wondrous week on Warsaw's red clay that saw her snap home hero Iga Swiatek's 18-match clay-court winning streak with a rousing 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 upset of the world No. 1 in the Poland Open quarterfinals.
It was Garcia's first win over a reigning world No. 1 in 10 attempts and showcased her all-court acumen and piercing return game.
Apart from a tight game when she served for the first set oday, Garcia was in charge posting her 18th win in her last 21 matches. This victory vaults the former world No. 4 to No. 32 in the live rankings. Garcia has played Top 20 level tennis in recent months.
Playing her maiden major final, Bogdan battled gamely but could not slow Garcia's second-set flight.
Afterward, the 108th-ranked Romanian showed her class congratulating Bogdan and thanking Warsaw fans.
"First of all I would like to congratulate Caro, you have been amazing the whole week and past few months," Bogdan said during the trophy presentation. "So congratulations to your team also, you guys do a great job, so continue like this. You're a great champion. I wish you all the best for the future and a lot of success.
"You guys gave us so much energy and it's amazing to play in front of you. I think that's why we play tennis. Guys, I love you and I want to see you back next year. Thank you so much."
Bogdan missed a backhand wide as Garcia gained the opening break at 30.
Garcia drained another backhand crosscourt error backing up the break for 3-0. Bogdan held at 30 to get on the board after 13 minutes of play.
The pair traded breaks in the fifth and sixth games. Garcia zapped a forehand return down the line to break for 4-2.
Throwing down successive smashes, Garcia fired a forehand extending the lead to 5-2.
Serving for the set, Garcia tightened. The Frenchwoman double faulted twice, caught her toss once and was on the defensive when Bogdan wrong-footed her rapping a forehand winner to break again for 4-5.
Throughout this tournament, Garcia's skill ripping returns on the rise put opponents in precarious positions countering off the back foot.
Stepping well inside the baseline, Garcia attacked a serve and angled off a deft backhand volley for set point. Hammering another return, Garcia rattled out an errant reply breaking for the third time to snatch a one-set lead after 48 minutes. Garcia hit 10 winners compared to six for Bogdan in the opener.
Turning her shoulders into her shots, Garcia left Bogdan waving in futility blasting another buzzing return to break for a 3-1 second-set lead.
Ruthless returning from Garcia put Bogdan under fire through the second set. Leaning into her two-hander Garcia cracked a crosscourt backhand return for her fifth break of serve and a 6-4, 5-1 lead.
An ace brought Garcia championship point. When Bogdan's final return sailed long Garcia fell to her knees than arose and launched into her traditional jet jump across the court.