Caroline Garcia beats Petra Kvitova to win Western & Southern title

Associated Press
Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022 5:17 p.m. | Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022 5:17 p.m.

Caroline Garcia, of France, yells Sunday as she wins a point against Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, during the women’s singles final of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament in Mason, Ohio.

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Caroline Garcia, of France, reacts as she defeats Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, during the women’s singles final of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, in Mason, Ohio.

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Caroline Garcia, of France, lies on the court as she defeats Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, during the women’s singles final of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, in Mason, Ohio.

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Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, reacts after losing a point to Caroline Garcia, of France, during the women’s singles final of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, in Mason, Ohio.

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Caroline Garcia, of France, addresses the crowd as she holds the Rookwood Cup after defeating Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, during the women’s singles final of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, in Mason, Ohio.

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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.