By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, March 24, 2024
Caroline Garcia brings fight and flight when she faces Naomi Osaka.
Rocketing 12 aces, Garcia won five of the final six games fighting off former No. 1 Osaka 7-6(4), 7-5 to reach the Miami Open round of 16.
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On match point, Garcia attacked digging out a demanding low volley and soaring for a smash to land in the round of 16 for the first time since 2019.
🐨 Melbourne – Garcia d. Osaka
🦅 Doha – Osaka d. Garcia
🐬 Miami – Garcia d. OsakaIn the pair’s third meeting of 2024, @CaroGarcia prevails 7-6(4), 7-5 to reach the last 16 and tie her best career result in Miami!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/BOMhtEav3E
— wta (@WTA) March 24, 2024
Afterward, Garcia said facing Osaka’s jolting power makes you feel as if you leave a piece of yourself on court. Osaka zapped 16 aces and saved seven of nine break points.
“I think the [aces] came mainly in the first set. I felt second set I was struggling with my serve,” Garcia told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “Second set, I left my shoulder out there because you have too much the power of Naomi, but first serve in the first set was super important for me.”
The one-set lead empowered Garcia to keep swining away as she rallied from 2-4 down in the second set.
“It always gave me a lot of confidence,” Garcia said. “I had to be as relaxed as I can technically and really try to get the ball as high as I can but really go for it…nice and loose.”
PSA: @CaroGarcia is hosting a new podcast! 🎙️@tennisinsidercl | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/GR9u0kOquU
— wta (@WTA) March 24, 2024
This third match between the two power players this season saw Garcia play periods of brilliant first-stike tennis to beat Osaka for the second time this season.
The Frenchwoman ripped 13 aces and did not face a break point, stopping Osaka 6-4, 7-6(2) in a superb Australian Open opener last January.
Riding an imposing first serves and timely strikes, Osaka defeated Garcia 7-5, 6-4 in Doha last month.
Today, Garcia played big and bold at pivotal points setting up a blockbuster round of 16 vs. hometown hero Coco Gauff.
US Open champion Gauff streaked through 10 straight games defeating French lucky loser Oceane Dodin 6-4, 6-0 to reach the round of 16 for the second time in the last three years.
The third-seeded Gauff and Garcia have split two prior…
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