Caroline Garcia soars into top 10

Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia is into the biggest singles final of her career at the China Open.

After the 23-year-old saved a match point to defeat world No.3 Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals, she outplayed a misfiring Petra Kvitova 6-3 7-5 in a 90-minute semifinal.

.@CaroGarcia sets @ChinaOpen Final vs @Simona_Halep!

Wuhan champion ousts Kvitova 6-3, 7-5! pic.twitter.com/pcNKEzdpwX

— WTA (@WTA) October 7, 2017

FEATURE: Garcia is realising potential

It qualifies Garcia for her first WTA Premier Mandatory final – and she will be rewarded with a top 10 debut next week.

Currently ranked at a career-high No.15, Garcia is projected to soar to a new high of No.10. If she wins the title, she would move to No.9. The result also keeps her in contention for the prestigious WTA Finals later this month.

Garcia is riding a 10-match winning streak, which includes winning her first WTA Premier 5 title last week in Wuhan. She plays soon-to-be world No.1 Simona Halep in tomorrow’s final. Halep has won both of their previous matches.

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“That’s the kind of match I want to play, against the top players,” Garcia said. “She’s brand-new No. 1. That’s a match I look forward to it, even more in the final of a Premier Mandatory.

“It’s going to be a battle for sure…she’s a very tricky player. I will have to play my best to have a chance.”