US OPEN – Women’s singles – Caroline Garcia sweeps Bianca Andreescu to advance to the round of 16

What a match, what a demonstration and what a victory! Caroline Garcia came out like a leader from the first big pitfall placed on her way in this US Open by outclassing Bianca Andreescu in the third round (6-3, 6-2 in 1h27), on the night of Friday to Saturday. Exuding confidence and the joy of playing, the Frenchwoman, more offensive than ever and author of 31 winning shots, completely outclassed the 2019 champion who nevertheless fought to the end and tried everything to find solutions, but ended up folding logically in the face of the opposing hurricane.

This time, it will be difficult to hide longer. Caroline Garcia, who had never reached the round of 16 at the US Open – that’s it… – can no longer not be considered a title contender. After two first rounds certainly well negotiated but not fundamentally dangerous against two players clearly on her scale (the Russians Rakhimova and Kalinskaya), the Lyonnaise, seeded n°17, suddenly moved on to a mountain stage against the Canadian, who fell in the previous round of another very “hot” player of the summer, the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia.

But Caroline showed very quickly that Andreescu or not, she was determined not to deviate one iota from her resolutely attacking game plan. From well-regulated entry to the service, both feet on the table in return, attracted by the net like a moth by the light of the spotlights (24 mounted on the fly in all), she went to conquer a break from the sixth game (4-2) and did not blink when his opponent immediately broke. Without panicking, Garcia, who passed the milestone of 300 aces served in 2022 (including 8 again this Friday evening, and how many winning services…), placed a new acceleration, this time decisive for the gain of the 1st set.

The best player of the tournament so far?

Bis repeated in the 2nd set. On his way, Garcia took the service of his opponent from the start, who made the effort to come back immediately. But there again, not the slightest sign of panic on the face of “Caro”. Which, on the contrary, began from there to unfold an absolutely extraordinary quality of tennis to come off 5-1, 15-40, or two match points on Andreescu’s service.

Admirable until the end despite the opposing wave, the latter saved them nicely, and again tried to put pressure on the next game. But Garcia, with authority, finally drove the final nail to his coffin with a service winner to the T unleashed like a hammer blow.

With this victory and this displayed level of play, Caroline Garcia can really start dreaming big now, without of course departing from the famous match after match. She will face in the round of 16 the American Alison Riske-Amtritraj (n°29), who took out the Chinese Xiju Wang 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Obviously, she will be the favourite. Of course, that doesn’t mean anything. And of course, nothing is done. But quite frankly, after a week of tournaments, we haven’t seen a player play better tennis than Caroline did last night…