WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 20, 2022

Caroline Garcia

Press Conference

C. GARCIA/A. Sabalenka

6-2, 4-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Can you tell us how it feels to get over the line after all the interruptions?

CAROLINE GARCIA: Yeah, it feels great. First to be in like the final of 1000 event after so many years, and the scenario of today was just like unbelievable. We had to stop few times. We never know when we will come back.

It was long wait, and in the wait you never know what you are supposed to do, so it was tough. I'm very happy with the last preparation for the comeback at 3-1. I was really ready for every point. It made the difference.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How did you spend your time during those breaks?

CAROLINE GARCIA: So you wait doing nothing, because you don't know when it's going to come back (smiling). Don't always like give you like a time and everything. You try to eat a little something but not too much, not to be heavy if you have to come back sooner than expected.

Just get some rest and, yeah, read and then talk with the coach to see what we can improve, what I have been doing good and we can come back better on court.

So, yeah, that was pretty much that for I don't know how many hours.

Q. In terms of your experience you have generated over the course of your career, what experience helped you this week? Like in terms of managing, you know, a pretty tough draw, a little bit of the rain delays and things like this today, where did experience pay off for you this week?

CAROLINE GARCIA: It's tough to say. There is so many different things. I think what I did good, I really tried to stay in the present for every single match.

And after, if there is a great win, to enjoy the feeling of the win, because when you don't get as many wins, it's really tough, so you try to enjoy it and take more time to enjoy it. It's part of the process.

Then the next day is a new day. Sometimes the sensation the first hours of the day are not great, but it doesn't mean it's going to be a bad day. Just wait, see what's coming. Don't ask myself too many questions about the future, like I have a tendency to do.

But I'm learning, and my team is helping in this way. I think that's one of the most important points of this week, it's like I was accepting the condition and just trying my best.

Q. You were asked on court about storylines coming in and that yours wouldn't be one that most people would anticipate. When you look at the week you have had, how satisfying has it been to create the storyline that you have?

CAROLINE GARCIA: Yeah, I mean, I guess no one expected it, that's for sure (smiling). It's a long way to come from quallies. I was not too far out of main draw. I asked for a wildcard, top 20, didn't get it. It was a lot of good players, Americans.

It's never easy, like with the new ranking I had, I will be in the main draw, but you have to go through quallies, to play a French girl, it's a tricky first round.

Yeah, it's one match at a time. Try to take the best from every single match, really improve through the tournament. Yeah, I mean, feels like I have been here for a long time, I have to admit. I know the site pretty well now, but I kind of enjoy it and it's really nice to be in the final again.

Q. What is your experience against Petra? What makes her a difficult opponent tomorrow?

CAROLINE GARCIA: Yeah, she's a great champion. She won already so many titles, slams, aggressive player, lefty. Good serve, good forehand. Tough to read.

Yeah, it's probably, like today, you know, the most aggressive player will probably get the win. You have to try to play faster, to move better on court against a player like this. A final, it's the match you are looking forward to it. It's a great challenge for me to play against Petra, and I will try to play my game style as best that I can.

Q. What's up with the arm? Are you concerned about it at all?

CAROLINE GARCIA: I don't know what is happening. I mean, it's a long list of things weird happen since the beginning of the year, and we are trying to deal with it as best as we can.

It's a long way since I arrived here in Cincinnati, a lot of matches, tension and everything, so there is weird things coming up. We will try to deal with it the best we can tonight, tomorrow morning, to prepare for it.

Like I say, you have to accept sometime it's not 100%, it's not the best feeling, but I'm sure it's going to hold everything together.

Q. How different does this feel compared to 2017 Wuhan, 2017 Beijing?

CAROLINE GARCIA: It feel like it's in the U.S. and not on the other side of the world. Yeah, I mean, it feels very different, because obviously like coming from quallies, you don't really expect to be in the final.

I had some difficult past years. When I did won Beijing, I was like 30, 25 in the world, so you are not coming from that far. I had a good year so far in 2017 already in slams.

But, yeah, it feels different. I'm different, and I'm enjoying every single win I have more with my team, with the work that we are doing. It makes it easier to come back the next day.

Q. I think in part people really appreciate your story and that you are talking openly about those hard times. I'm curious what you think about what Petra has been through and the respect that she also has in the locker room?

CAROLINE GARCIA: Yeah, it's another story. It's nothing comparable to what Petra has been through. She's a champion on and off court. She never complain about anything. She's always very respectful for everyone, working for the tournament, on tour with other player.

She's working wherever very hard. She came back strongly. You couldn't expect her to come back as she did, and she was probably going through very tough period of time for her life and after for being an athlete. She prove everyone that she's a great champion, great person.

Every single week sometimes you think like she's really tired at the end of what she can do, and she's still here, fighting her way. She proved this in the first round here and now she's in the final.

I feel I have seen those kind of weeks so many times for her already, and it's a great chance for me, and I'm very proud to play the final against her tomorrow.