After Bianca Andreescu’s disappointing loss, Tuesday night held another surprise for tennis fans at the National Bank Open when Caroline Garcia became the first seed to lose.
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The fifth-seed of the event fell behind too often in her second-round encounter against Marie Bouzkova, 37th in the world, losing her flag 6-4, 4-6 and 6-2 on the Rogers court.
The 25-year-old Czech wasted no time, quickly winning in the opening round and taking the lead in the middle set, before Garcia found her bearings a bit.
Bouzkova was undeterred and took a 5-0 lead in the final round, a deficit too big for the 29-year-old Frenchwoman.
Below expectations
Garcia was hoping to relaunch his season in front of his Montreal fans. She had come to Quebec with a positive attitude, having also been frustrated on her first outing in Washington last week.
The sixth player in the world, who started the campaign in the fourth tier, has not lifted a trophy this season. His inconsistent game also attracts criticism from the French, who have very little to eat on the tennis side at the moment.
Garcia will have important points to defend over the next few weeks, since last year she triumphed in Cincinnati before reaching the semi-finals in New York.
Azarenka injured
A few hours earlier, the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, 16th favorite in Montreal, ka had withdrawn, hit in the abdominals.
“Dear fans, it is with regret that I have to announce some bad news. During my warm-up for tonight’s game [mardi face à l’Américaine Sloane Stephens], a lingering injury that I thought was resolved has returned and I have to withdraw from the tournament. I wish the event all the success it deserves and good luck to Sloane for the rest of the competition. I love Montreal and I can’t wait to come back!”
Madison Keys of the United States also had to step down with a gluteal injury. The 13th seed had ruined the evening of her compatriot Venus Williams the day before.
2023-08-09 01:55:20
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