Caroline Garcia claimed her first title of the season after beating number 2 seed and 2017 champion Donna Vekic 2-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) after 2 hours and 36 minutes on grass at the Nature Valley Open in Nottingham.
It was a tough day for Garcia, who had to finish her semifinal match against Jennifer Brady, which was interrupted by rain due to rain on Saturday. Bad weather conditions forced players play most of the matches on indoor hard court.
Garcia lifted her seventh career title and her second on grass since Mallorca in 2016.
Vekic clinched all her four break points and faced only two break points during the whole match. Garcia converted both her chances.
Vekic fired a backhand winner down the line to break Garcia in the first game of the opening set. The Croatian player hit another down the line winner to break Garcia at love and held serve to race out a 4-0 lead. Vekic sealed the opening set 6-2 with a love hold. Vekic was solid on serve and never faced a break point in the first set.
In the second set Garcia broke serve at love with a forehand down the line winner to take an early 2-0 lead. Vekic pulled back the break at 4-2 to get back on serve. Both players did not face any break points in the next games setting up a tie-break. Vekic and Garcia stayed neck and neck until 5-4. Garcia won two consecutive points to claim the second set after Vekic made two consecutive backhand errors.
The third set went on serve with no break points. Vekic held serve to draw level to 3-3 with an ace. In the seventh game Garcia fired an ace to take a 4-3 lead. Vekic came two points away from the win twice at 5-4 and at 6-5. Garcia held serve to draw level to 6-6 to set up a tie-break.
Vekic hit a slice forehand crosscourt winner to draw level to 3-3. Garcia took a 5-3 lead after a double fault from Vekic. The French player earned three championship points at 6-3 with a forehand reurn winner. Vekic saved the first chance with a forehand winner, but Garcia hit an ace on the next point to close out the tie-break 7-4.
“I am very happy and very proud of all of the week. The first week was tough for me, she was starting very well. She was starting very well, but I knew there was only one way to go, and it was by fighting. I did not know if I was going to get the win, but I really wanted to fight hard, and try to get the experience and enjoy it, and I definitely did a lot”, said Garcia.
