© Getty Images Sport – Cameron Spencer
Caroline Garcia admits that comments regarding her aggressive style “get on my nerves” and highlights that it is up to her to decide how to play and block out comments from outside.
On Monday, former world No. 4 Garcia met four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a match that was considered a highlight matchup of first-round action in Dubai. To no one’s surprise, big shots and great tennis were displayed but Garcia wasn’t the one that ended on the winning side as Osaka gave the Frenchwoman a 7-5 6-4 loss.
Although Garcia ended up losing in two sets, the outcome of the match could have easily been completely different had the former world No. 4 converted on her 5-3 lead in the first set. After Osaka served out the ninth game to reduce the deficit to 4-5, Garcia had a chance to serve out for the first set but her hand got tight and the Japanese earned her first break point chance – converted it – and tied the first set to five games.
After not allowing Garcia to serve out for the first set, Osaka served out the 11th game for a 6-5 before breaking the Frenchwoman again in the 12th game to complete her steal of the opener. In her post-match press conference, Garcia suggested that she got “passive” in the 10th game and…
