Marion Bartoli has warned Caroline Garcia to expect “to be under a lot more pressure at the French Open.” Garcia, ranked at No 5 in the world, was considered among the top contenders for the Australian Open title. In the end, Garcia’s run ended with a surprise round-of-16 defeat to Magda Linette.
The French Open is Garcia’s home Slam and Bartoli knows there will be a lot of pressure and expectation on the 2022 WTA Finals. “She’s going to be under a lot more pressure at Roland Garros, all eyes will be on her,” Bartoli said on the latest episode of Tennis Majors’ Match Points, as quoted on We Love Tennis France.
Garcia dreams of becoming a Grand Slam champion
Garcia, 29, won a maiden WTA 1000 and WTA Finals title in 2022. In December, Garcia admitted the next step for her would be winning a Grand Slam title. “Is it a relief for me? I don’t know.
Yes and no. Maybe that takes a little weight off me. But at the same time, it makes the dream and the goal of winning a Grand Slam even more concrete because it makes you want to go for much more. That’s sport; that’s tennis. Once you have accomplished something, you always want to go for more.
Trying to go for the biggest titles is what fuels my motivation. It’s the main reason why I’m training every day. Sure, the Masters is very important, it shows me what I’m capable of, but I think my game can still improve. I feel I’m able to achieve greater things.
After reaching the semis at the US Open and then winning the WTA Finals, winning a Grand Slam becomes a concrete dream, a tangible one, even if there is still a long way to go,” Garcia wrote in her piece for Eurosport’s Players’ Voice.
It remains to be seen if Garcia can become a Grand Slam champion in front of her home fans at the French Open.
