By Erik Gudris | Saturday, May 21, 2016
Caroline Garcia claimed her second career WTA title with a straight sets win in the Strasbourg final.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
France’s Caroline Garcia celebrated winning her second career WTA title on home soil at the Internationaux de Strasbourg event. It’s a perfect ending to the week for the French hope as she enters Roland Garros next week.
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Waiting for Garcia in Saturday’s final was qualifier Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.
The veteran reached the same final way back in 1997 when she lost to eventual champion Steffi Graf. Though Lucic-Baroni aimed for a different result this time, she came up against a sharp Garcia who enjoyed crowd support throughout the final.
Garcia got off to a quick start in the opening set by securing an early sevice break. Lucic-Baroni fought off more break points against her before finally getting on the scoreboard though still trailing 3-1.
The No. 10 seed Garcia soon broke again and jumped out to a 5-1 lead. But Lucic-Baroni, with big hitting of her own, started a mini-comeback. Lucic-Baroni reeled off three straight games to close the gap to 5-4.
The Frenchwoman responded by holding 0-40 on Lucic-Baroni’s serve in the next game. Though Garcia missed on her first two set points, she converted on her third when Lucic-Baroni netted a forehand.
From that point on, it was all Garcia who once again secured an early service break to start the second set. Though Lucic-Baroni battled on, Garcia was just too focused down the stretch.
Garcia earned another service break for 5-1 thanks to a huge backhand return winner. Now in a position to serve out the title, Garcia did not waver in the last game.
Garica raced out to a 40-0 lead with another forehand winner. On match point, Garcia sealed victory with a potent ace down the tee.
With that Garcia celebrated the 6-4, 6-1 win for her second career WTA title.
Garcia, who had never won back to back matches on clay until this week, now heads into the second major of the year in Paris. At Roland Garros, Garcia is scheduled to meet Bojana Jovanovski in the first round.