Caroline Garcia survived a tight contest against Daria Kasatkina in their round-robin clash on Saturday at the WTA Finals. Her win meant she joined Iga Swiatek as the second semi-finalist from the Tracy Austin group. Garcia needed two hours and 27 minutes to notch a comeback win against Kasatkina, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(5).
Before the result, Kasatkina had a 28-0 record of winning matches after claiming the opening set this season. Both players gave it their all since it was a virtual quarter-final with the winner moving ahead in the draw, and the player losing bowing out of contention.
The deciding set saw both players drop and reclaim their serve twice before taking it to the tie-break, where Garcia captured the match on the first match point that came her way. The sixth seed finished the match with 107 points, 10 more than her eighth-seeded opponent’s 97.
WTA Finals: Caroline Garcia’s season continues
Post-match Garcia shared, “It’s definitely a great achievement. I was already really proud to be in the Top 8. I don’t really know if I realize that this is the semi-final tomorrow.
It proves that this year was definitely a good year. I started very far from the Top 10, the Top 8, and I make my way to it. Today, it’s one more thing that proves my game style is working and I have to keep going that way”.
Meanwhile, the top-ranked Swiatek defeated Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-0 in 70 minutes to win the last round-robin match and advance to the semi-finals without losing any match in the initial stage of the tournament. Swiatek won 68% of her first-serve points to Gauff’s 53% and 70% of her second-serve points.
She also won 60% points on return on her opponent’s second serve. The world no. 1 also saved all three break points she faced while converting five break points on Gauff’s serve. Looking to reach the WTA Finals’ final, Iga Swiatek will now take on Aryna Sabalenka. Caroline Garcia’s opponent will be Maria Sakkari.
