Google News Abierto GNP Seguros: Caroline Garcia to rekindle rivalry with Donna Vekic in finale
by ABBEY JOHNSON
Caroline Garcia and Donna Vekic are the two finalists of the 2023 Abierto GNP Seguros in Monterrey. Garcia and Vekic won their semi-final match-ups on Saturday in straight sets. Garcia defeated fourth seed Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 41 minutes.
Throughout this week in Mexico, the French player didn’t concede a set in the four rounds she’s played. Against Mertens, she won 78% of her first-serve points, 57% of her second-serve points and saved all four break points she faced.
The Belgian won 58% of her first and second-serve points and dropped her serve twice in the match, although she did save 10 of the 12 break points she faced. Garcia finished the match with 33 winners to Mertens’ 17 and had one fewer unforced error than her opponent’s 15.
Abierto GNP Seguros: Will Donna Vekic thwart Caroline Garcia?
Meanwhile, Vekic, who’s the third seed, came through against China’s Lin Zhu, seeded fifth, 7-5, 6-2 in an hour-and-a-half. The opening set was quite competitive between the Croatian and Zhu with each player facing just one break point.
But where Vekic saved the one she faced, Zhu wasn’t able to do so and Vekic was able to serve out the set in the 12th game to go up in the match. In the second set, Vekic didn’t face any break point and converted two break points on her opponent’s serve to secure the win in straight sets.
Overall, Vekic finished the match by winning 78% of her first-serve points to Zhu’s 69% and 48% of her second-serve points to the latter’s 36%. About facing Vekic, a familiar opponent against whom she trails 4-5 in the head-to-head, Garcia shared, “Donna is having an amazing beginning of the year and a strong end of the year last year also.
She proved already in the past that she's a good player and today she had a solid semi-final. It's a big match for me to play and I'm very excited”. Meanwhile, both Caroline Garcia and Donna Vekic are looking to win their first title this season at the Abierto GNP Seguros.
For the 29-year-old Garcia, this is the second final she’s reached this year after the Lyon Open (lost to Alycia Parks). Vekic’s made it this far in an event for the first time in 2023. Photo Credit: Caroline Garcia Twitter