Tag Archives: Internationaux de Strasbourg

Garcia Outlasts Virginie Razzano to Reach Strasbourg Final

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Caroline Garcia is looking to double up on her career WTA singles titles…

The 22-year-old half-Spanish tennis player, who currently has one title under belt, outlasted France’s Virginie Razzano in an epic encounter to reach the final of the Internationaux de Strasbourg tournament.

Caroline Garcia

Leading 5-3 in the final set Garcia looked on course to close out the match in relative comfort. But, Razzano ensured a dramatic finish by breaking back in the next game before eventually succumbing, 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-5.

“It feels great. I’ve watched Virginie for as long as I can remember,” Garcia said. “She’s a great player and a bit of an idol, so to not only play her but beat her was an amazing experience.

“It’s important for my confidence to get wins like this and in finals, especially ahead of Roland Garros next week. It was a fighting performance. Losing that first set was tough but I came back and got through.”

Garcia will face qualifier Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who dismantled No.4 seed Kristina Mladenovic, 6-1, 6-1, in exactly an hour.

Garcia has won all three of her previous meetings with Lucic-Baroni, including a match earlier this year in Miami.

This is Garcia’s first WTA singles final of the year, her fourth overall.

Puig Becomes First Puerto Rican to Win a WTA Title…

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Monica Puig is earned her place in the annals for tennis history…

The 20-year-old professional tennis player, considered a rising star in women’s tennis, defeated Spain’s Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-4, 6-3 in the Strasbourg International final to become the first Puerto Rican player to win a WTA title.

Monica Puig

“It’s amazing to do this coming from such a small island, where tennis isn’t necessarily recognized as one of the main sports,” said Puig after her straight-sets victory. “I’m just happy I’m able to be here playing tennis not only for myself, but for my country too.”

In a match between two players appearing in their first WTA final, the Puig was on top from the start as she broke Soler-Espinosa in her first service game. She also broke twice in the second set, including in the final game.

Puig dropped just nine points on serve all match, two of which were double-faults.

“I woke up this morning and I felt it. I felt I was going to do something amazing,” said Puig, currently ranked No. 56 in the world. “It was one of those feelings where you just know it’s going to happen, and I played some of the greatest tennis I’ve ever played.”

Puig next heads to the French Open where she’ll face off against 2010 finalist Sam Stosur in the first round.

Soler-Espinosa faces Chanelle Scheepers at Roland Garros.

Puig Reaches Her First-Ever WTA Final at the Internationaux de Strasbourg

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Monica Puig is thisclose to earning her first WTA title…

In a semifinal showdown featuring two of the WTA‘s rising stars, the 20-year-old Puerto Rican pro tennis player beat 19-year-old American Madison Keys at the Internationaux de Strasbourg to reach her first WTA final.

Monica Puig

Puig, who was competing in her first WTA semifinal, won four straight games down a break at 3-2 in the second set for a 7-5, 6-3 triumph – her eighth over a Top 50 player.

“It was a really tough match against Madison,” said Puig, currently ranked No. 56 in the world. “I have a lot of respect for her. She’s one of the up-and-comers, like me and a bunch of other girls. She’s really aggressive and is always going for her shots. She has a really amazing serve. It was very tricky.

“I knew I had to grab the opportunity. If not, it would be gone and lost forever. It’s happened on other occasions where I haven’t taken advantage. I knew once I had it in my hands, I couldn’t afford to let it go. I’m really happy with the way I fought and was able to put negative moments behind me and focus on what I had to do next.”

Puig, who hasn’t dropped a set this week, will face off against Spain’s Sílvia Soler-Espinosa in Saturday’s final.

“One of my goals is to win a WTA event,” Puig said. “I’m really close to it. It has been a difficult beginning to the year. To see how I’ve progressed in Rome last week and how I’m playing this week is just amazing. I’m really happy with the work I’ve been doing with my new coach, and I can see that the results are starting to pay off already.”

Soler-Espinosa rallied from a set and 5-3 down for a 5-7, 7-6(7), 6-3 victory over American Christina McHale. Not only that, but she had a match point against her at 6-5 in the second set and was down 5-1 in the second set tie-break. The second set alone lasted an hour and 18 minutes and the match ran two hours and 46 minutes. Like Puig, this will be Soler-Espinosa’s first WTA final, and she will be Strasbourg’s first qualifier in the final since Karolina Sprem in 2003.

“I’ve been fighting for this moment for 26 years,” Soler-Espinosa said. “I’m really happy and excited.”

In Puig and Soler-Espinosa’s sole encounter previously, Puig pulled out a 6-2