Caroline Garcia eliminated in the round of 16 by Magda Linette

The French Caroline Garcia, 4e world, was eliminated in the round of 16 of the Australian Open by the Polish Magda Linette (45e) 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, Monday, January 23, in Melbourne. Caroline Garcia was one of the tournament favourites. In September 2022, she had reached the semi-finals at the US Open and won the year-end WTA Masters in Fort Worth (Texas), the best title of his career to date.

It is therefore Magda Linette who will face the Czech Karolina Pliskova (31e) for a place in the semis. The latter eliminated the Chinese Shuai Zhang (22e) 6-0, 6-4 in less than an hour. “I don’t believe it… I don’t understand what happened… I don’t have the words”admitted Linette who, at 30 (she will be 31 on February 12) had never passed the third round of a Grand Slam tournament.

Magda Linette took advantage of Caroline Garcia’s lack of success, especially in service, to beat her. And after the premature defeat of her compatriot and world number one Iga Swiatek the day beforeshe will be the last representative of Poland in the quarter-finals. “The key was my serve because it punished me when I was not efficient on my face-off”underlined Linette who posted a success rate of 75% of first serves.

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For her part, Caroline Garcia, whose very risky game is very dependent on her serve, only managed 49% of first serves. The French also conceded thirty-three unforced errors for twenty-seven winning strokes, against fourteen unforced errors and twenty-five winning strokes for Magda Linette.

“I can’t take it anymore! »

Caroline Garcia had however started the meeting with a double break which allowed her to break away 3-0. She served for the set at 5-4, but Magda Linette picked up before dominating the tie-break. In the second round, the Frenchwoman repeatedly expressed her growing frustration by hitting her racket on the ground or with a “I can’t take it anymore! » screamed from the first game of the inning.

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The Pole made the decisive break to lead 5-4 and qualified on her first match point, on her serve.

The World with AFP

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