Strange Garcia mortal danger for Dutch tennis players

Bad news for Dutch tennis. When the best players of our country face France at the Billie Jean King Cup to be held in Boulogne-sur-Mer on Friday and Saturday, perhaps they will look into the eyes of the best tennis player of the moment.

Caroline Garcia won the finals of the WTA Finals, the year-end tournament for the best players of the year, held in Fort Worth on Tuesday. And when he started his tennis year as number 74 in the world, no one thought it was possible.

“It’s definitely a big surprise,” says tennis commentator Marcella Mesker. “He’s had an incredible second half of the year and he’s playing very confidently.”

“Actually, we were expecting Pole Iga Swiatek in the final. He was a big favorite but lost in the semi-finals. And it was a chance for Garcia because the final against Sabalenka was an open game.”

Garcia is not well known to the public, but his breakthrough didn’t come out of nowhere. Mesker: “Everyone thinks so, but don’t be fooled. He also won major tournaments in 2017 and even entered the top ten. He just didn’t get very far at the Grand Slams and people noticed that.”

Until this year, Garcia had never made it to the quarterfinals of Roland Garros in 2017. One of the best in doubles: she won the Roland Garros in 2016 and 2022 with Kristina Mladenovic. The duo reached the finals at the US Open and the semifinals in Melbourne.

Murray saw it in 2011

Real experts recognized early on how talented Garcia was, who grew up near Lyon. In 2011, he placed in the last four junior at all Grand Slam tournaments and even made it to the finals in New York.

That same year, at the age of 17, he made his Australian Open debut and immediately won his first match. He even challenged Maria Sharapova in Paris. She was leading 6-3, 4-1, but she didn’t win a single game after that.

Andy Murray had seen enough. “The girl who plays Sharapova becomes number one in the world,” she tweeted. “Caroline Garcia, what an actress. You heard it here for the first time.”

Mesker is also a French fan. “Garcia has a unique game. We’ve known women’s power tennis for years, but Garcia is different. He always takes full risk: on the turn he is always three meters from the baseline. He is also at the top of the ace rankings.”

Garcia is currently 29 years old and is ranked fourth in the world. Mesker thinks there is still a lot of time to take the first place in the world rankings. “He’s also a very good athlete, very fit. And tennis players can hold out longer anyway.”

Couples break up with their father, arguing with their partner

At the end of 2017, Garcia also shone in the prestigious WTA Finals after her victories over Elina Svitolina and Caroline Wozniacki, where she had to bow only to Venus Williams in the semi-finals.

Slowly but surely he walked away. Struggling with injuries and form loss, the player made a tough decision in 2021. She broke up with her coach, Louis Paul Garcia, who was close to her throughout her career. In other words, his whole life. Louis Paul is her father.

“He was completely shaped by his father,” his compatriot Kristina Mladenovic said about Garcia in 2017, after ending their (successful) double partnership via SMS via SMS.

Kiki Bertens, who retired last year, makes her debut as assistant coach for the Netherlands in the Billie Jean King Cup against France:

Dutch tennis players are playing against France to stay in the world group and qualify for next year’s qualifying round. The playoff was originally supposed to be held in the Netherlands, but tennis federation KNLTB could not find a suitable venue.

Lesley Pattinama-Kerkhove (WTA-197) is the Dutch leader and is supported by Suzan Lamens (WTA-211) and Lexie Stevens (WTA-462). Demi Schuurs will play in doubles.

France can choose three women from the top 100. Alongside Garcia (WTA-4) are Alize Cornet (WTA-36) and great talent Diane Parrey (WTA-65). The fourth Frenchwoman, Chloe Paquet (WTA-159), also ranks higher than the leader of the Orange team.