By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, March 24, 2024
Caroline Garcia brings struggle and flight when she faces Naomi Osaka.
Rocketing 12 aces, Garcia received 5 of the ultimate six video games combating off former No. 1 Osaka 7-6(4), 7-5 to succeed in the Miami Open spherical of 16.
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On match level, Garcia attacked digging out a demanding low volley and hovering for a smash to land within the spherical of 16 for the primary time since 2019.
🐨 Melbourne – Garcia d. Osaka
🦅 Doha – Osaka d. Garcia
🐬 Miami – Garcia d. OsakaWithin the pair’s third assembly of 2024, @CaroGarcia prevails 7-6(4), 7-5 to succeed in the final 16 and tie her greatest profession end in Miami!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/BOMhtEav3E
— wta (@WTA) March 24, 2024
Afterward, Garcia mentioned going through Osaka’s jolting energy makes you are feeling as should you go away a bit of your self on courtroom. Osaka zapped 16 aces and saved seven of 9 break factors.
“I believe the [aces] got here primarily within the first set. I felt second set I used to be combating my serve,” Garcia informed Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “Second set, I left my shoulder on the market as a result of you may have an excessive amount of the facility of Naomi, however first serve within the first set was tremendous essential for me.”
The one-set lead empowered Garcia to maintain swining away as she rallied from 2-4 down within the second set.
“It at all times gave me a whole lot of confidence,” Garcia mentioned. “I needed to be as relaxed as I can technically and actually attempt to get the ball as excessive as I can however actually go for it…good and free.”
PSA: @CaroGarcia is internet hosting a brand new podcast! 🎙️@tennisinsidercl | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/GR9u0kOquU
— wta (@WTA) March 24, 2024
This third match between the 2 energy gamers this season noticed Garcia play intervals of good first-stike tennis to beat Osaka for the second time this season.
The Frenchwoman ripped 13 aces and didn’t face a break level, stopping Osaka 6-4, 7-6(2) in an excellent Australian Open opener final January.
Using an imposing first serves and well timed strikes, Osaka defeated Garcia 7-5, 6-4 in Doha final month.
At this time, Garcia performed large and daring at pivotal factors organising a blockbuster spherical of 16 vs. hometown hero Coco Gauff.
US Open champion Gauff streaked via 10 straight video games defeating French fortunate loser Oceane Dodin 6-4, 6-0 to succeed in the spherical of 16 for the second time within the final three years.
The third-seeded Gauff and Garcia have break up two prior conferences and each anticipate a battle with a quarterfinal spot on the road.
“Additionally with Caroline, she’s at all times a tricky participant to play,” Gauff mentioned. “I believe the newest time we performed was US Open like two years in the past. In all probability even sooner.
“I am unable to bear in mind the newest time. I believe I misplaced to her the newest time. She’s robust. Everyone knows how she performs. Takes the ball tremendous early, performs very aggressive. I believe for me it is going to be essential that I simply type of persist with my recreation and get the ball deep within the courtroom and never letting them run me round on the courtroom. It is type of going to be an enormous matchup.”
Picture credit score: Cameron Spencer/Getty