Experience trumps youth as Garcia knocks off Gauff
EXPERIENCE was the winner over youth when Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia defeated American Coco Gauff in straight sets on day two of the WTA Finals. Garcia needed just an hour and 18 minutes to win 6-4 6-3 and start her quest for a WTA Finals title off on the right note. The Tracy Austin group got its chance to take to the court at Fort Worth, Texas, with world number one Iga Swiatek the other day two winner, knocking off Russian Daria Kasatkina, 6-2 6-3.
Competing in the WTA Finals for the first time in six years, the number six seed proved too consistent for the exciting Gauff, winning via four breaks of service and a high first serve winning percentage. Garcia won 77 per cent of her first serve points off a 64 per cent clip, while also only being broken twice. Though Gauff was impressive off the second return serve, Garcia did not give her many chances, and powered to a straight sets win.
“It was definitely a good match, pretty solid on my side,” Garcia said post-match. “I think I stayed really positive at every moment.
“[Coco] is always impressive to play against, it’s always a lot of intensity and she can do so many things. … It was very important for me to stay calm, stay on my game and what I wanted to do, and I think I did it.”
Earlier in the day, world number one Swiatek took control of her clash with eighth seed Kasatkina, winning in just under and hour and a half. The Polish top seed won a whopping 82 per cent of her first serve points and saved all three break points against her, whilst putting pressure on the young Russian’s serve. Swiatek broke three times herself and won 49 per cent of her return points to never look like losing in the 6-2 6-3 victory.
Swiatek said she was pleased with how the contest started and set her up for the first round victory.
“Well, for sure the start,” she said post-match. “Because I felt like I can really play aggressively but, on the other hand, with these balls here you have to be really careful. So I wanted to balance it, and I think I did that pretty well at the beginning.
“And that gave me confidence for the rest of the match. I’m happy that we got used to the conditions pretty quickly.”
WTA FINALS DAY 2 RESULTS:
[1] Iga Swiatek (POL) defeated [8] Daria Kasatkina (RUS) 6-2 6-3
[6] Caroline Garcia (FRA) defeated [4] Coco Gauff (USA) 6-4 6-3
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