This could well be the best performance #CarolineGarcia had ever exhibited this year, with the world number 21 stunning #JuliaGoerges in the third round of the #MiamiOpen with a surprisingly straightforward 6-0, 7-5 scoreline.
It was a high-quality serving performance from both players but the Frenchwoman was just playing on another level. The 19th seed strolled to take the first set in a bagel after losing just 12 points in the process, before narrowly edging through a tightly-contested second set which was only decided by a solitary break.
Firing four aces, Garcia claimed her first top-20 win of the year as she finally regained the form which propelled her to the fourth place in the rankings. The former WTA Finals semifinalist was unable to rekindle the form which helped her have a magical Asian Swing in 2017, but after falling out of the top-20 recently, this week will be memorable for Garcia.
Goerges displayed her fighting spirit after that disastrous opening set, battling back to make this match a competitive one. She missed four crucial break points at 5-5 before getting broken to end the match with, throwing in her first double-fault of the set on match point. She lost just four points behind her second serves in the second set, although Garcia was even more impressive as she lost just 13 service points throughout the entire match.
Garcia claims the one-sided first set
It was a fantastic start from Garcia who grabbed eight of the first 10 points to claim the early break and jump out to a 2-0 lead. A marathon third game followed, and despite some really strong resistance from Goerges, it was the Frenchwoman who managed to consolidate the break with the help of her strong serves.
Garcia was playing exceptionally well with her groundstrokes being too overpowering for the German, who suffered a meltdown as she failed to find the range of her shots. Struggling behind her serves and being slow off the ground, Goerges was broken for the second consecutive time when Garcia found an excellent return which was unreturned.
Rattling off 12 of the last 16 points in the set, Garcia was invincible and snatched the first set 6-0 after just 25 minutes of action.
Garcia battles through the tight second set
Garcia continued to ride on her momentum, comfortably holding her serve to start the second set with. After defeating Victoria Azarenka in the second round, many of Garcia’s fans would be encouraged by her performance as the Frenchwoman attempts to rise up the rankings and regain her top form once more.
In fact, this scoreline should not come off as a huge surprise for some people — considering the sluggish period Goerges is experiencing currently. After starting the year with a title at the ASB Classic, she owns a 5-5 win-loss record in her following events.
Goerges rebounded to finally get onto the scoreboard with a solid hold and escaped doom when she saved a break point in the fourth game with a well-angled forehand. Both players, being strong serves and rather weak returners, extended the set into an eleventh game without a break point surfacing.
Most thought that the first break of serve would arrive upon us in that game, with Goerges opening a 0-40 lead and Garcia put herself in all kinds of troubles. However, a series of unforced errors saw the German’s lead evaporate, and the Frenchwoman was ultimately able to save four break points and seal the confident hold.
Serving to stay in the match, the pressure now bounced back on Goerges’ side of the court. Facing a match point, Goerges sent in an unfortunate double-fault which allowed Garcia to take the comfortable 6-0, 7-5 win after just an hour and 20 minutes of action. Garcia will next face Petra Kvitova in the fourth round for a place in the quarterfinals.
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