Garcia Overwhelms Mertens, Will Meet Vekic For Monterrey Title

Caroline Garcia eased into the Monterrey final besting Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-4.

The 5th-ranked Garcia was two of 12 on break chances but never dropped serve, lost just eight points on her serve in the second set. Garcia won the final 3 games of the contest to reach her 16th career final.

“It was very intense. Every point as super important since the very first game of the match. We had a lot of break points to save, both of us, and they were saved with a lot of winners,” said Garcia to the WTA.

She is eyeing her 12th career title tomorrow when she’ll meet Croatian Donna Vekic.

The 29-year-old Vekic ousted the 5th-seeded Lin Zhu in two sets 7-5, 6-2. Vekic has never lost to Zhu, leading 2-0 in tour-level head-to-head encounters.

“It was not an easy match, it was really solid,” said Vekic. “I was just waiting for my opportunity to come and I was lucky that I was patient enough and I used the first opportunity I had to break her. I think I changed the rhythm really well which didn’t suit her at all. When I had an easier ball I was aggressive and finished well at the net.”

Vekic reaches her 11th career final. She is looking for her 4th career title. And head-to-head, Vekic has the better of Garcia 4-2 in their tour-level meetings. But they haven’t met since the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

“Donna is having an amazing beginning of the year and a strong end of the year last year also,” Garcia said of the final. “She proved already in the past that she’s a good player and today she had a solid semifinal. It’s a big match for me to play and I’m very excited.”

You Might Like:
Garcia To Face Mertens In Monterrey SF; Vekic Wins QF Thriller
Lone Top 20 Caroline Garcia Stars In WTA Monterrey Field
Vekic Hangs Tough To Beat Garcia For Monterrey Title
Garcia Tops Vekic For Nottingham Crown
Bacsinszky, Wozniacki Win WTA Titles Over Weekend