France’s Caroline Garcia became the first qualifier to win a WTA 1000 title with her 6-2 6-4 victory over Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova at the Western & Southern Open.
The world No.35 Garcia upset three Top 10 players in Maria Sakkari, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula to become the first qualifier to reach the Cincinnati final, before another superb performance against two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova. In the final, the former world No.4 Garcia served 11 aces and saved all eight break points she faced to win her third title in 2022, her previous two being Bad Homburg on grass and Warsaw on clay.