WHAT HAPPENED: Talk about a sharp start. No. 17 seed Caroline Garcia opened her 2022 US Open campaign with a 6-2, 6-4 scoreline over lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova.
Early on, a knee-high volley from midcourt caught Rakhimova by surprise and the stance and execution on return was particularly aggressive. Sprinkle in winners off each wing and 10 successive points, and it all enabled the Frenchwoman to surge 4-0 in front.
By this point, Garcia was serving superbly with two holds to love. It took 18 minutes for Rakhimova to claim a game, but it was pure dominance from Garcia.
An ace at 5-2 was called let by umpire James Keothavong, but Garcia didn’t hear the call and celebrated posting a set lead. Back to the baseline for take two, another well-constructed point, and Garcia secured a 6-2 advantage.
The power play, the transitioning up the court, and the net play was all on song and the pressure finally took hold on the world No. 90. At 2-2, Garcia connected with a backhand return on the stretch, read her opponent’s reply and hooked a forehand pass for a pivotal break.
Down 15-30 in the next game, Garcia stood firm in a bruising rally, skipping forward to clip away an acute volley and fend off any danger of a potential comeback.
A confident hold closed out victory to cue the trademark "Fly with Caro" celebration.
“I was really excited and looking forward to being back on court," Garcia beamed. "Competition is the thing I like the most."
“Last week, I have been busy, but I'm really happy with the first-round win, and to be able to figure out something. It was not a perfect match but it was a good one. Now I can go back to practice and improve for my second round.”
WHAT IT MEANS: Simply put, the offensive game Garcia has harnessed in recent months is working wonders. Her 33 winners, 15/20 success at net, and no break points faced succinctly tell the story.
World No. 60 Anna Kalinskaya awaits, who will be wary of the all-court artillery possessed by the French seed.
Asked whether her reinvigorated aggressive game style boosts her fulfilment, Garcia mused, "Yeah, definitely. Definitely the game styles that I like to play, that's how I feel the most confidence."
“I have the more control on my game style. Doing winners, going to the net, it's definitely what I enjoy in tennis and how I enjoy watching people play it, and that's what I like," she added.
It also means we are a step closer to a possible popcorn third-round battle between 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu and Garcia. With four Top 10 victories in the past month alone, compared with just one win of that ranking level between 2019 and 2021, the World No. 17 seems at ease facing the elite stars.
In this form, Garcia is more than capable of reaching a maiden fourth round in New York.
MATCH POINT: Since shrugging off injuries earlier in the season, Garcia has hit a hot streak. From June onwards, the 28-year-old has now won 27 of her past 31 matches. That run includes collecting three titles on three different surfaces. The Cincinnati silverware was historic, making her the first-ever qualifier to lift a WTA 1000 title.
At the start of this stretch, the former world No. 4 was ranked down at No. 75. Back within the Top 20, it's going to take a lot to stop the Frenchwoman at Flushing Meadows. Plenty now label Garcia a contender—but she’s not looking that far ahead.
“Obviously the last week was pretty intense,” admitted the ambitious Garcia, transitioning from Cincinnati success over to New York.
“We really tried to enjoy a couple of weeks, try to manage the external, the media, the best way we can, trying to learn from the past as well, and then focus on the past while recovering physically as well."
“Practices have been good, not great but good," Garcia added. "One day at a time, and happy with the win of today. Tomorrow is a new day of practice.”
