"I started off really badly, but I managed to stay calm and find solutions, to fight, and little by little, it turned in my favor."
French number two Caroline Garcia finally won in three sets, Friday October 2, against Belgian Elise Mertens (20th), 1-6, 6-4, 7-5, thus qualifying for the round of 16 of Roland Garros.
The 26-year-old Lyonnaise will challenge the world number 5, the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, for a place in the quarter-finals.
This is his first round of 16 in a Grand Slam for more than two years.
His best result in a major tournament is a quarter-final at Roland Garros in 2017.
Under the roof of Central Court, the match started badly for Caroline Garcia: nine unforced errors in the first three games led to her being led 3 games to 0, a double break in favor of Mertens.
"A real battle"
But she was not discouraged and then showed herself both very applied and very impactful, especially on the service (73% from first ball) and forehand, until a total of 38 winning strokes, including six aces. .
Even if things weren't easy at the time of closing.
Serving to win the game at 5-4, Garcia let three first chances to conclude, and allowed Mertens to equalize at 5-5.
Then after taking hold of the Belgian's face-off again, she again offered her a chance to come back to height, before turning her sixth match point, after 2 h 15 of combat.
"It was undecided, for sure, a real battle," Garcia said with a smile.
The difference was made "when I led the game with my forehand," said the former world No. 4.
"It's when I play forward that I play best."
With AFP
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