Mason, Ohio – Caroline Garcia It generated momentum with entering the US Open next week, capturing the Western and Southern Women’s Open with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Petra Kvitova Sunday.
Garcia, already the first qualifier to reach the final of the tournament, took the win when Kvitova sent his second serve into the net. Garcia got to her knees and lay on her back on the field after the last point.
“It’s hard to believe I’m standing here today,” Garcia said in a post-match speech to the crowd. “It was this week.”
The 28-year-old Frenchwoman played Sunday’s match after taking 25 wins at the WTA Championships since June.
“Every win counts,” Garcia said. “Every title is very special.” “It’s always hard to describe. It doesn’t happen often, and you have to really enjoy it. I’m really thankful for this amazing week of tennis, winning another title, it’s so special.”
Both 28th seed Kvitova and 35th seed Garcia survived last week’s first-round loss in Toronto to make their first appearances in the Cincinnati Final.
“Certainly not the result I wanted, but … I have to take it that way and see the positive,” Kvitova said. “I know it hurts now, but on the flip side, I have to see it in general and be proud of my 40th final of my career.”
Garcia broke her Czech opponent in the first game and raced to take a 4-0 lead. Garcia also had an early advantage with a break for the first game in the second set.
“It’s been a crazy run the last couple of weeks, but I really enjoyed it,” Garcia said. “[Let’s] Let her continue.”
Kvitova, 32, left the field to receive treatment for an injury after trailing 2-0 in the second set. She looked sharper after her comeback but couldn’t get over the early break.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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