Caroline Garcia and Borna Coric Win Singles in Cincinnati
Locker Room
August 22, 2022
Caroline Garcia and Borna Coric reminded us that unlikely dreams really can come true in tennis.
A qualifier and a low-ranked player won highly-prized 1000 titles and brought back memories of this time last year.
Emma Raducanu was preparing for the 2021 US Open and the gruelling qualifiers that might bring her a glimpse of the main draw in New York.
The British teenager went on to win a perfect ten matches and lift the US Open title itself amid incredible scenes.
Ironically it was Caroline Garcia who knocked Raducanu out of Wimbledon this summer.
She played a great match on Centre Court that day and we have just seen her quality again.
Caroline Garcia also just won Cincinnati against the odds despite Raducanu’s heroics.
While Emma sensationally beat Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka inside 24 hours, the French woman was quietly working her way through the draw under the radar.
And in the Cinci final, Garcia defeated two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-2, 6-4 to make history.
She became the first qualifier to win a WTA 1000 title, just as Raducanu had previously become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam.
And Coric also rewrote the record books with his surprising 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Croatian became the lowest ranked player to win a Masters Trophy at 152.
Tsitsipas needs to rediscover some ruthlessness if he is to stand a chance at the imminent US Open.
The much-loved Greek started strongest but disappeared in that all-important first-set tie-break. The second set became a formality for the underdog.
World superstars Raducanu and Tsitsipas will now focus on Flushing Meadows and the US Open.
But you can bet Wimbledon 2023 is never far from Raducanu’s thoughts either.
And Tsitsipas will be itching for a big Wimbledon to thrill his legions of fans.
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