By Tennis Now | Saturday, May 25, 2019
Dayana Yastremska saved a match point edging Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (3) in the longest final of the year to win her third title in Strasbourg.
Photo credit: Michel Grasso/C'est qui Maurice/@WTA_Strasbourg
Dayana Yastremska comes to life in tennis' version of sudden death.
The 19-year-old Yastremska saved a match point edging Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (3) in the longest final of the year to win her third career title in Strasbourg.
Word Play: Best Quotes From RG Media Day
"I want to congratulate you for the final," Yastremska told Garcia afterward. "It's been amazing to play you and I want to congratulate you and thank you for this match.
"Two years two years ago, I lost first round in qualies from match point. And today, I almost lost from match point (up)."
The 2016 Strasbourg champion Garcia staged a fierce fight back saving a pair of match points at 4-6, 4-5, as she roared through four straight games to snatch the second set and force a decider after Yastremska had commanded much of the first two sets.
Staring down championship point at 4-5 in the final set today, Yastremska did not hold back.
Scalding a biting serve down the middle, the world No. 42 saved the match point then won six straight points on her serve forcing the final-set tie breaker.
Lashing a crosscourt forehand right off the sideline, Yastremska earned the mini break for 3-2. A diagonal forehand handcuffed the Frenchwoman stretching the lead to 4-2. Catching the line with a bold slider serve, Yastremska quieted French fans for 5-2.
Ripping a forehand winner, Yastremska earned her third championship point. A gritty Garcia denied it flashing a forehand down the line.
On her fourth match point, Yastremska closed when Garcia yanked a forehand return wide.
Throughout this final, a fearless Yastremska hammered deep drives down the line to collect her second title of the year in a final-set tie breaker.
In February, Yastremska roared back from a 2-5 deficit in the final set, taking a medical timeout then reeling off four of the last five games edging Ajla Tomljanovic, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (3), to capture her second career title at the inaugural Thailand Open in Hua Hin.