Unseeded Caroline Garcia of France won her second title in as many weeks yesterday as she stunned new world No. 1 Simona Halep in the closely fought final of the China Open.
Garcia is in the form of her life and edged out the Romanian second seed 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to add the China Open to the Wuhan Open title she lifted last weekend, making it five WTA crowns in all.
Garcia’s feat was all the more remarkable, because she was carrying a leg injury that has required frequent on-court treatment and completed a mammoth three-set quarter-final win well past midnight on Friday.
Photo: EPA
The 23-year-old, who is set to rise from No. 15 to No. 9 in the world, sank to her knees on the hard court when she finally sealed victory in the second-set tie break.
“I was like, seriously, this really happened?” Garcia said, asked what was in her mind when she slumped to her knees.
“It was such an amazing two weeks, it went so fast, I have the feeling I started these tournaments yesterday or two days ago,” she said. “Even this morning I couldn’t believe I was in the final.”
Photo: AFP
With rain teeming down outside ahead of what turned out to be a cracker, a leak in the Diamond Court stadium roof had threatened to dampen proceedings.
However, that was soon fixed and there was little between the two players until Garcia broke Halep in the 10th game to grab the first set.
In the men’s final yesterday, world No. 1 Rafael Nadal won his sixth title of another remarkable year as he punished a disgruntled Nick Kyrgios.
The 31-year-old Spaniard was never really in trouble against the temperamental Australian in a 6-2, 6-1 rout in 92 minutes on Beijing’s outside hard courts.
JAPAN OPEN
AP, TOKYO
David Goffin atoned for his defeat in the Japan Open final last year by winning it yesterday, beating Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 7-5.
The victory extended Goffin’s winning streak to nine matches, including four in Shenzhen last week when he won his first title in more than three years.
The Belgian stands at No. 8 in the ATP Race to London rankings. With the injured Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka ruled out, 10th place will be good enough to secure a place at the end-of-season showpiece.
The Frenchman posted his first victory over a top-five opponent when defeating Marin Cilic in the semi-finals. As in that match, he gained a foothold in the middle of the second set, breaking Goffin to lead 4-2.
However, Goffin immediately broke back, and again in the 11th game before serving out to love for the title.
“I’ve been serving well for a few weeks,” Goffin said. “During the rallies he was hitting the ball really flat, and that combined with the surface meant the bounce was really low. It was tough on the legs to stay with him in the rallies.”
Goffin has 33 hard-court wins this year, joint-top on the tour with Rafael Nadal, who played the China Open final later yesterday.
In the doubles final, Japan Davis Cup duo Ben McLachlan and Yasutaka Uchiyama surprised hot favorites Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares 6-4, 7-6 (1).
SHANGHAI MASTERS
AP, Shanghai
Jared Donaldson of the US yesterday scored an early birthday present in beating Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 6-4 in the Shanghai Masters first round.
Donaldson, who turns 21 today, saved all eight break points he faced. He broke Cuevas’ serve once in each of the last two sets.
The 56th-ranked Donaldson plans to celebrate his birthday by going to Disney Shanghai, before experiencing a first career meeting against Nadal in the second round.
“I want to get a picture with Mickey, Pluto the dog and Daffy Duck,” Donaldson said, laughing.
On a less light note, Donaldson said of playing Nadal: “You want to play against the best and see how your game stacks up. Playing against someone like Rafa is really special. If I lose, it will allow me to know what was my game lacking, what I need to improve on to beat guys like him.”
Gilles Simon of France, a 2014 Shanghai finalist, posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over Chinese wildcard Wu Yibing, who won the US Open junior boys’ title last month.
In a qualifying round, Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 7-5, 6-7 (2/7), 4-6.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely