The 28 -year -old Frenchwoman has never managed to free himself from pressure or set up her aggressive game. Eliminated in 1 h 06 of play, the Lyonnaise will be back in the world top 10 on Monday.
Le Monde with AFP
Caroline Garcia, 17th in the world, seemed petrified by the stake of a first semi-final of Grand Chelem, Thursday at the US Open where she was swept by the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (5th) 6-1, 6-3 in 1 h 06. Jabeur (28 years old) will play his second major final in a row after that of Wimbledon. It will be against the Polish Iga Swiatek (world N.1) or the Bélarusian Aryna Sabalenka (6th). “It’s great! After Wimbledon (defeat in the final against Elena Rybakina), I had a lot of pressure and I am really relieved to have confirmed my results. The season on hard had started a little badly, but I am very happy to be in the final, “commented the Tunisian.
Garcia appeared very tense as soon as she entered the court Arthur-Ashe, contrary to what she had let appear during the previous rounds. And she never freed herself. Holding the Aces record in the season (316 before half) and the tournament this year (30 before half) she only succeeded 2 (all in the second set) against 8 for Jabeur. And she committed a total of 23 direct faults (against 15 for her opponent).
The Lyonnaise let out the first entry round by completely missing her first service game (four direct faults) to concede the station wagon. On the contrary, Jabeur started with two Aces and won his first service game to carry out 2-0.
the French then won her first and only game in the Channel, which she offered her opponent on a 14th direct fault (against 5 for Tunisian in this first set).
Garcia has been finding her best ranking since 2018
In the second round, Jabeur succeeded in the break to lead 3-1 and then kept his advantage until the end. Despite the injunctions of his father “put the pressure” by giving him forward in the court, Garcia failed to put his game in place.
This game which had allowed her to align a series of 13 consecutive victories since the first round of the Cincinnati qualifications where she won the 10th title of her career just before coming to New York. Still classified 79th in May, the old N.4 will find the top10 on Monday in 10th place. A first since October 2018.
“I knew that she was playing incredible tennis and that she put a lot of pressure on her opponent. It was not easy for me, but I was so mentally prepared …”, explained Jabeur.
As for the rest, the Tunisian admitted with a smile that she hoped that Swiatek and Sabalenka were tearing themselves apart “for five hours”.