LONDON | It’s done, Leylah Fernandez signed her first victory at Wimbledon on Monday. But already, the Quebecer knew that she could not celebrate this first triumph at the All England Club for too long.
It is that her rival in the second round will be the formidable Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, fifth favorite of the tournament, whom she will face on Thursday (rather than Wednesday, since the rain has mixed up the cards…).
The newspaper offers you five things to know about the next duel of the 95th world.
1. They have already faced each other twice this season
This second-round meeting will be the third meeting between the two players this year. Each time, the 29-year-old Frenchwoman won. First in the second round of the Australian Open, where she won 7-6 (5) and 7-5, then in Indian Wells, where she won 6-4, 6-7 (5) and 6 -1. But these two confrontations gave some possible solutions to Fernandez: “I will have to be offensive, she pointed out on Monday. Attack, attack, attack.”
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2. The Frenchwoman is not at the top of her form
Even if she won easily in the first round in London (6-4 and 6-3) ahead of the American Katie Volynets, 125th in the world, Garcia is not at the top of her form. She has been indisposed for two weeks by an inflammation in the shoulder which forced her to withdraw during her quarter-final in Eastbourne where she faced the Russian Daria Kasatkina, last week. Garcia’s shoulder was also covered with several bandages on Monday.
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3. A late but explosive ascent
Garcia has been slow to fulfill the promises that many have placed in her since the start of her career, but she managed a spectacular rise at the end of the last campaign. The Frenchwoman also had a superb end to the year in 2017, before falling in the rankings. Then, last year, she climbed 70 levels on the WTA, going from 70th to fourth place, thanks in particular to her victory in Cincinnati (where she had to qualify), to her four ace at the US Open , then to his triumph in the championship at the end of the season.
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4. She opened up about her eating disorder
The Lyonnaise has already suffered from an episode of bulimia. In an interview with The Team, earlier this year, Garcia said that at some point in 2022, she “went overboard” when a foot injury plagued her. “It was the distress of not being able to do what I wanted on the court, of not winning anymore and of suffering physically. Eating calmed me down for a few minutes. We all know it doesn’t last, but… It was an escape. It’s uncontrollable,” she explained, adding that she was better today.
5. She’s an aggressive player
If Leylah says she will have to attack early against Garcia, it is because the 5’10” Frenchwoman is a very aggressive player herself, which is definitely an asset on a fast surface like grass. The fifth in the world, holder of 11 titles on the WTA, has also reached the round of 16 twice at the All England Club: in 2017, then last year.
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2023-07-04 23:30:00
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