When Caroline Garcia led Maria Sharapova by a set and 4-1 at the French Open two years ago, Andy Murray said the Frenchwoman then 17, was a future world No1. Garcia, who went on to lose to Sharapova in three sets, has made steady if unspectacular progress since that breakthrough but today she has a chance to make her mark at her home Grand Slam tournament for a second time.
Garcia’s opponent is the current world No1 and outstanding favourite for the title, Serena Williams. “I’ll believe I can still win,” Garcia said. “I’ll play my game. I can serve well. I have a good forehand. I move around quite a lot. I’ll try and play tennis that is going to bother her.”
The task facing Garcia, nevertheless, could hardly be more daunting. Since her stunning defeat to Virginie Razzano in the opening round here last year — her only first-round exit at a Grand Slam event — Williams has lost just three times in 71 matches. The American, 31, has won 10 of the 13 events in which she has played in the last 12 months.
Did Garcia believe she would benefit from her experience of playing Sharapova here in 2011? “Well, that was two years ago, so I have grown up,” she said. “It’s going to be a difficult match and Serena has so much experience. She knows how to manage Grand Slams. She will be the favourite, but I’ve got to play my match. I’ll believe in it to the very end.”
Garcia reached the second round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the Ukrainian Yuliya Beygelzimer. Williams beat Anna Tatishvili 6-0, 6-1 in just 51 minutes.
The French Open, nevertheless, remains the Grand Slam event where she has had the least success. “I just keep trying but it hasn’t been working out for me,” Williams said. “I just think I may have got nervous in the past or may have basically choked a few matches away. I played some opponents who played well, but I have probably had opportunities and gave them away.”
