By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, July 1, 2022
Continuing her superb grass-court run, Caroline Garcia has spent Wimbledon week one stretching one streak and snapping another.
An assertive Garcia slashed 16 aces stopping Zhang Shuai 7-6(3), 7-6(5) to charge into the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time since 2017.
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It is Garcia's eighth straight grass-court win following her run to her eighth career title in Bad Homburg last month.
The victory vaults the two-time Roland Garros doubles champion into a fourth-round match vs. Marie Bouzkova.
All this from the 28-year-old Frenchwoman, who arrived at SW19 mired in a four-match Wimbledon losing streak.
Afterward Zhang said "of course" Garcia can win Wimbledon.
If you're thinking that's polite praise from a friendly opponent, look at Zhang's recent history of losing competitive matches to women who went on to capture Grand Slam titles and perhaps consider her point of view.
"Why not?," Zhang said of Garcia raising the Rosewater Dish. "Because last year at US Open I lost to Emma [Raducanu] second round. I feel, like, oh, my God, she play so good, and then she won the tournament.
"Three years ago I play against Simona [Halep] here at quarterfinals, and then she won the Wimbledon. And also I played third round Sofia Kenin, Australia Open. She won the tournament."
The 41st-ranked Chinese said she's shared her confidence with Garcia, too.
"So so many time, I just tell Caro, so many time, yeah, they beat me, after, they won the [Grand Slam] tournament," Zhang said. "She say, Okay, don't tell me too early. She have to concentrate next match."
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport