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By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, March 24, 2024
Caroline Garcia brings struggle and flight when she faces Naomi Osaka.
Rocketing 12 aces, Garcia received 5 of the ultimate six video games combating off former No. 1 Osaka 7-6(4), 7-5 to succeed in the Miami Open spherical of 16.
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On match level, Garcia attacked digging out a demanding low volley and hovering for a smash to land within the spherical of 16 for the primary time since 2019.
🐨 Melbourne – Garcia d. Osaka🦅 Doha – Osaka d. Garcia🐬 Miami – Garcia d. Osaka
Within the pair’s third assembly of 2024, @CaroGarcia prevails 7-6(4), 7-5 to succeed in the final 16 and tie her greatest profession end in Miami!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/BOMhtEav3E
— wta (@WTA) March 24, 2024
Afterward, Garcia mentioned dealing with Osaka’s jolting energy makes you are feeling as if you happen to go away a bit of your self on court docket. Osaka zapped 16 aces and saved seven of 9 break factors.
“I believe the [aces] got here primarily within the first set. I felt second set I used to be scuffling with my serve,” Garcia advised Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “Second set, I left my shoulder on the market as a result of you’ve an excessive amount of the ability of Naomi, however first serve within the first set was tremendous vital for me.”
The one-set lead empowered Garcia to maintain swining away as she rallied from 2-4 down within the second set.
“It at all times gave me a whole lot of confidence,” Garcia mentioned. “I needed to be as relaxed as I can technically and actually attempt to get the ball as excessive as I can however actually go for it…good and unfastened.”
PSA: @CaroGarcia is internet hosting a brand new podcast! 🎙️@tennisinsidercl | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/GR9u0kOquU
— wta (@WTA) March 24, 2024
This third match between the 2 energy gamers this season noticed Garcia play intervals of sensible first-stike tennis to beat Osaka for the second time this season.
The Frenchwoman ripped 13 aces and didn’t face a break level, stopping Osaka 6-4, 7-6(2) in an excellent Australian Open opener final January.
Driving an imposing first serves and well timed strikes, Osaka defeated Garcia 7-5, 6-4 in Doha final month.
Immediately, Garcia performed large and daring at pivotal factors establishing a blockbuster spherical of 16 vs. hometown hero Coco Gauff.
US Open champion Gauff streaked by means of 10 straight video games defeating French fortunate loser Oceane Dodin 6-4, 6-0 to succeed in the spherical of 16 for the second time within the final three years.
The third-seeded Gauff and Garcia have cut up two prior conferences and each count on a battle with a quarterfinal spot on the road.
“Additionally with Caroline, she’s at all times a tricky participant to play,” Gauff mentioned. “I believe the latest time we performed was US Open like two years in the past. Most likely even sooner.
“I am unable to bear in mind the latest time. I believe I misplaced to her the latest time. She’s powerful. Everyone knows how she performs. Takes the ball tremendous early, performs very aggressive. I believe for me it may be vital that I simply sort of keep on with my recreation and get the ball deep within the court docket and never letting them run me round on the court docket. It is sort of going to be a giant matchup.”
Photograph credit score: Cameron Spencer/Getty
