It was about three years ago when most people watched her play for the first time. On Court Philippe Chatrier - one of the most historic courts in the world - a 17-year-old, 188th-ranked wildcard played lights out for a set and a half against one of the WTA's bigging legends at the French Open, cracking huge serves and groundstrokes and running everything down to build a shocking 63 41 lead. That legend was Maria Sharapova, and though the Russian ended up completely flipping the script - she won the next 11 games for a 36 64 60 victory - Caroline Garcia made herself known that day.
Sharapova was understandably impressed: "We will be seeing her for many more years," the former No.1 said. "She has a big game and many strengths, and I think she has a bright future ahead of her." Those expectations may have weighed heavily on her. She wouldn't win another WTA-level main draw match for another 16 months - but in 2013 she started to put all the pieces together again, breaking the Top 100 players in the world for the first time and finishing the season in there as well, at No.75. And 2014 has seen her climb to even higher heights: she reached her first WTA semifinal at Acapulco, scoring her first Top 20 win over Eugenie Bouchard along the way; she pushed World No.1 Serena Williams to the limits in a dramatic third round match in Miami; and just a few days ago she captured her first WTA title at Bogotá, recording her first Top 10 win over Jelena Jankovic in the title match.
"You have to give your opponent credit - she raised her level a lot and started serving much better in the second set," said Bouchard, who was up a set and a break on Garcia before falling, 36 64 61. "In the second set she was just going for it and really took it to another level."
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