Rotten, rotten! Rotten, rotten!
What an end 2022! Caroline Garcia is now the second Frenchwoman to win the Masters. The first was none other than the recent director of Roland-Garros: Amélie Mauresmo. The former world number 1 was crowned in 2005, after beating Mary Pierce, in a final that will remain etched in the minds of the two players, but also in that of all the tennis fans who, that day, had been able to witness one of those matches that only happen from time to time.
It generally continues in the evening with a restaurant, disco and company.
Caroline’s final was a different kind of fight, but what a pleasure to see Lyonnaise produce her ultra offensive tennis with brash success! If you think she is exaggerating, ask Aryna Sabalenka what she thinks. And it is not the underlying point that will prove otherwise.
It was then Monday night, at 9:41 pm local Texas time, that Caroline Garcia was able to raise her arms. After this type of victory, the evening is generally continued with a restaurant, a nightclub and company. Not here. After the game, the new world number 4 indulged her media obligations, before heading straight back to the hotel for a quick night out, not for the extravagance of the party, but rather for an adrenaline that she dripped too softly.
You certainly don’t come to Portel as a “cheerleader”.
When you wake up, photo session, then another interview or two. But again, there was no time to visit JR and Pamela’s house, as we had to hurry to board the 17:08 (00:08 French time) from Dallas to Paris – Charles de Gaulle. At 9:05 am, French time this time (i.e. 2:05 am for Garcia’s body), Caro landed in Roissy, where a Billie Jean King Cup organization car was waiting for him, to take him directly to the Squadra hotel. French, located in Hardelot, 18 minutes from the Chaudron du Portel.
And 24 hours later, the semifinalist of the last US Open was already on the pitch training for the play-off against the Netherlands. France tries to keep itself in the world group. For this she will therefore have to beat the Dutchman, which would allow her, in April 2023, to play a match to try to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup finals which, this year, are held in Glasgow just at the moment in which I write these few lines.
One could imagine, given the rather low ranking of the opponents – without wanting to disrespect the Dutch – that the French number 1 would not necessarily be on the field from the first day. It is a misunderstanding this champion who certainly did not come to Portel to be a “cheerleader”. The draw is so decided: he will play the second game against Suzan Lamens, once Alize Cornet has finished his match against the Dutch No. 1, Lesley Pattinama-Kerkhove.
And if nothing changes, we should find Caroline Garcia from 1:30 pm on Saturday to, why not, offer victory to France and end her season, this time really, in the most beautiful way: by representing France victoriously!
