Caroline Garcia ousted 2018 US Open winner, Bianca Andreescu in their third-round match on Friday at Flushing Meadows. The 17th-seeded Frenchwoman needed an hour and 27 minutes to get through, 6-3, 6-2 against the Canadian.
Garcia dominated the proceedings from the start and there wasn’t much that Andreescu was able to do. Early breaks of Andreescu’s serve set the pattern across both sets and while Garcia surrendered her lead once across each set, she was quick to up her level despite the momentary setback.
Garcia won 69% of her first-serve points to Andreescu’s 44%. She had 31 winners, 20 more than the latter’s 11 and 20 unforced errors, seven more than her opponent’s 13. This is the 28-year-old’s 10 straight win, going back to the Cincinnati Open where she claimed the title after coming through the qualifying draw.
US Open: Ons Jabeur’s Major strides
Meanwhile, in the day session, fifth seed Ons Jabeur notched a comeback victory over the 31st-seeded American, Shelby Rogers. The Tunisian needed two hours and 17 minutes to wrap the match, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.
The opening set saw both players struggle on serve with four of the first six games favouring the returner. Rogers ended this trend by holding serve first and then in the 10th game, collected the set after breaking Jabeur’s serve for the third time.
Both players looked to have settled into a tempo in the second set and there wasn’t any break point that came either player’s way until the ninth game when Rogers faced two break points. All Jabeur needed was one of those and the 28-year-old after taking the break, consolidated it by clinching the second set to love. The deciding set went in favour of Jabeur who came up with winner after another even as Rogers struggled at the other side of the net.
Ons Jabeur finished with 28 winners to Rogers’ 25 and 38 unforced errors to the latter’s 46. This is the first time that Jabeur’s made it to the round-of-16 at the US Open.
Photo Credit: Andrew Ong/USTA
