Garcia Falls To Ace Machine Parks In WTA Lyon Final

Caroline Garcia came up empty in front of her home fans in Lyon. The world No. 5 and tournament top seed fell in the Open 6ème Sens Métropole to upstart American Alycia Parks in two sets 7-6(9-7), 7-5.

Parks, ranked No. 79, finished with 15 aces, missed on 6 doubles and never lost serve. The 22-year-old won 39/46 (85%) first serves, 21/37 (57%) on second serves and dropped serve just once en route to the stunning win in her WTA final debut.

“It feels amazing to hold my first WTA tour-level championship trophy,” Parks said. “Words can’t explain. Just last year, I was in an $60,000 final, and now I have won a WTA 250.”

Garcia was bidding for her 12th career title. This was her 15th career final. She was broken just once and had more break chances (4 to 3) than Parks but never converted. She double faulted on match point.

“I made sure I focused on my service games today to get through the match, because I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy match,” Parks added. “So just staying within myself, and fighting for every point, and that got me through the match.”