FORT WORTH, TX, USA (AP) – Caroline Garcia wore a cowboy hat and posed with the trophy. Earlier, he told fans that he enjoyed his first trip to Texas.
There were a lot of reasons for that.
Garcia pulled through a tight first set on Monday to set her way to a 7-6 (4) 6-4 victory over Aryna Sabalenka to win the WTA Finals title.
Garcia, sixth in the world rankings, became the second French woman to win the tournament ending this season. The first was Amelie Mauresmo in 2005.
This was also the last time the WTA Finals were held in the United States.
There was only one break point in a duel between tennis leaders at aces. García leads the tour in this category, while Sabalenka leads the competition.
Garcia converted that break point in the first game of the second set. He ended up spoiling seventh seed Sabalenka in only her third defeat in 12 finals on tough courts.
Garcia’s decisive shot came with it on serve. Sabalenka sent a very long backhand shot.
Garcia fell backwards onto the track and put his fists over his eyes.
“There is definitely a lot of joy and happiness,” Garcia told reporters an hour later, still wearing his Texas hat and holding the trophy. “It was a crazy final, with a lot of enthusiasm at every point from the start.”
The match was played on a temporary indoor stadium at Dickies Arena.
The WTA Finals have moved to Texas from China amid concerns about the safety of Grand Slam doubles champion Peng Shuai, who has accused a former official in her country of sexual assault.
Restrictions still in place in parts of China due to the coronavirus also affected the decision.
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