MASON, Ohio — Caroline Garcia generated momentum going into next week’s U.S. Open, capturing the Western & Southern Open women’s championship with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Petra Kvitova on Sunday.
Garcia, already the first qualifier to reach the tournament final, clinched the victory when Kvitova sent a second serve return into the net. Garcia dropped to her knees and lay on her back on the court after the final point.
The 28-year-old French woman went into Sunday’s match with a WTA Tour-leading 26 wins since June.
The 28th-ranked Kvitova and 35th-ranked Garcia both shook off first-round losses the previous week in Toronto to make their first appearances in a Cincinnati final.
Caroline Garcia defeats Petra Kvitova to claim #CincyTennis ????
– First player to win a WTA 1000 starting from the qualies
– 3rd WTA 1000
– 3rd title of the year, one on each surface ????
– 10th WTA title
– She will be ranked #17, #9 in the Race
– 24-4 since Bod Hamburg pic.twitter.com/oMizKFg7vK— Relevant | Tennis Stats & Info (@RelevantTennis) August 21, 2022
Garcia broke her Czech opponent in the first game, and raced to a 4-0 lead. Garcia also gained an early edge with a first game break in the second set.
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Caroline Garcia becomes the 2022 Western & Southern Open champion after defeating Petra Kvitova 6-2, 6-4 in the final! ????????@CaroGarcia | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/gNchSE9H6E
— Live Tennis (@livetennis) August 21, 2022
Kvitova, 32, left the court for treatment of an injury after falling behind 2-0 in the second set. She looked sharper after returning but couldn’t overcome the early break.
