In-form Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia can trace the beginning of her trip to the year-end WTA finals in Singapore back to one moment.
The world No.8 faced three match points in her quarter-final match against Elina Svitolina at the Beijing Open last month, before eventually prevailing in a third-set tiebreak on her way to winning the final against world No.1 Simona Halep.
And as she prepares to face Svitolina again as part of the Red group in Singapore, the Frenchwoman says she knows how important that grit and determination was.
"For sure, these match points against Svitolina were very important," Garcia said.
"I just went for it, even if I miss couple of (match points) in the game before, but I know I have to go for my shot, and I cannot wait and she was not going to give it to me.
"So I just went for it, and it worked."
Garcia comes into the WTA Tour finals on an 11-match winning streak, including defeating Australian Ashleigh Barty in the final of the Wuhan Open.
Her hot run led her to claim the final spot in the elite eight-woman field, but she says she doesn't feel any different in practice, despite her winning ways.
"I mean, it feels good, for sure, to have so many wins like this behind me, but I know tennis can go very fast in one way or another," she said.
"So I'm just staying myself, staying humble at practice, keep improving (and) keep working out."
Before a rematch with Svitolina she must face Halep in the first match on court on Monday.
"In Beijing it was different conditions. I know these matches are going to be very different, and I'm ready for even a bigger fight," she said.
Monday's other match has Svitolina facing Caroline Wozniacki.
Share
