MY ACCOUNT
Caroline Garcia has kept her terrific form going with a stylish 6-3 6-4 victory against 18-year-old Coco Gauff in Tuesday’s US Open quarter-final.
Garcia, 28, has now not lost a set in her past six matches, dating back to her final against Petra Kvitova at the Western & Southern Open, and now finds herself in the first grand slam semi-final of her career.
Against Gauff, Garcia relied on her excellent return game to neutralise the power serving approach from the American teenager, creating eight break point opportunities in the match while only facing three herself.
The Frenchwoman jumped out of the gates at a breakneck pace, rattling off the first four games of the match.
Garcia’s ability to win points with her return were amplified when Gauff would miss her first serve. Although she landed 78 per cent of her first serves fair, Garcia feasted whenever she missed, winning 11-of-15 opportunities.
The second set began just like the first, with Garcia taking the immediate break and refusing to relinquish the lead the rest of the way.
It ends a strong run of form for Gauff, who was also yet to lose a set in the tournament entering this contest, although she will enter the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time when it next updates.
For Garcia, this semi-final berth will also see her re-enter the top 10, and she has a chance to push towards her career-best ranking of fourth, set back in 2018, if she can keep on winning this week.
Data Slam: Garcia’s dream run continues
Garcia has worked her way into career-best form in recent months, with a July win over world number one Iga Swiatek at her home tournament in Warsaw punctuating what is now a run of 31 wins from her past 35 matches, including a current streak of 13 in a row.
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Garcia – 4/4
Gauff – 5/6
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Garcia – 24/22
Gauff – 18/24
BREAK POINTS WON
Garcia – 3/8
Gauff – 1/3
