Marathon victory
Garcia tops Sasnovich in just less than 3 hours
NEW HAVEN — When Caroline Garcia and Aliaksandra Sasnovich met in the third round of this year’s Australian Open, Garcia pulled out a threeset win in a grueling, backand-forth match that lasted two hours and five minutes.
The Round of 16 of the Connecticut Open had the second-seeded Garcia of France and unseeded Sasnovich (Belarus) facing each other on Stadium Court on Tuesday night and yes, they dueled point-for-point in another marathon match, one that lasted 2:59.
Fortunately for Garcia, Tuesday’s match followed the same script as her previous one against Sasnovich, as she registered a dramatic 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-4 comeback victory at the Connecticut Tennis Center.
Garcia moved on to the Connecticut Open quarter- finals, where she will face either Anett Kontaveit (Estonia) or Monica Puig (Puerto Rico).
Ranked sixth in the WTA, Garcia faced a 4-1 deficit in the third set, when it began raining lightly, causing a six-minute delay.
“It was such a battle every point of the match,” said Garcia, who has five career titles. “Losing the first set was very difficult. It was just such a fight the whole way. I’m just happy to get through it and get the win.”
Sasnovich, who dropped a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 decision to Garcia in the Australian Open and is 0-3 lifetime against Garcia, was on the cusp of gaining one of the biggest victories of her career Tuesday night.
A 106 mph ace gave Sasnovich a 4-1 advantage in the third and deciding set. With the score 15-all in the
ensuing game, play was delayed due to a misty rain. Garcia seemed to regroup after the stoppage of play and held serve in a game that went to deuce point. She then broke Sasnovich’s serve, then held after going to deuce point again, evening the set at 4-all.
The eighth game of the third set nearly went to a second deuce point, but while retrieving a shot, Sasnovich’s shoulder hit the net. Her running forehand hit Garcia, but since Sasnovich hit the net, the point and game were awarded to Garcia.
“I was just trying to get out of the way of the ball, it was coming right at me,” said Garcia, who lost in the round of 16 at the Connecticut Open in 2016. “I couldn’t really see what was happening. I don’t know if she hit the net or not.”
Garcia converted a break point with a forehand winner to take a 5-4 lead in the deciding set. The ensuing game saw Garcia reach match point three times, before she closed it out when Sasnovich netted a wicked forehand.
“It was another great battle against her (Sasnovich),” Garcia said. “Once again, there were a lot of rallies. That first set was definitely difficult for both of us physically. The second set, she made a few more errors and I was able to take advantage of them.”
Sasnovich, 24, who is still seeking her first career win, forced a first-set tiebreaker by smashing a well-placed forehand winner, tying the set at 6-6. She then dictated the points in the tiebreaker.
Following the opening set, Garcia received some advice from her father/ coach Louis Paul.
“I can’t remember exactly what he was telling me, but we talked about trying some different things and settling down,” Garcia said. “I’m happy with how I fought back to win this match. This gives me confidence that I can come back in a tough match like this.”