Caroline Garcia ensured clinching at least one more win before retiring after coming back from a set down to beat world No. 48 Sonay Kartal 5-7 6-4 6-3 in the Cincinnati first round.
The Frenchwoman, who hadn't played since losing in the French Open first round, made a better start and took the opening three games of the match. But then, the former world No. 4 missed out on four break points in the fourth game before losing her serve in the fifth and 11th games and ultimately dropping the first set.
In the second set, Garcia was also up by an early break before blowing it. However, this time, the Frenchwoman reacted much better, as when she was 5-4 up, she broke Kartal in the 10th game to force a decider.
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After sealing the second set, the 2022 WTA Finals champion also earned the first and lone break of the third set in the fourth game to complete her comeback win.
In the Cincinnati second round, Garcia will play against Karolina Muchova.
Some thought Garcia was already retired
When Garcia accepted wildcards into Cincinnati and the US Open, some were surprised and thought that she changed her mind about retiring from pro tennis. But when announcing her decision to retire from pro tennis in the spring, the 31-year-old noted that she still had "a few tournaments left" to play.
"Still, this is not over -- not just yet. I have a few tournaments left. The first one is at home, at Roland Garros. My 14th consecutive time being part of it. And my last. So to all my tennis family who'll be around: lets meet one more time, to dream, and fight together. In the coming days, there will be more time to share what's next for me. But for now, I just want to focus on living these last weeks as a tennis pro to the fullest," the former world No. 4 said at the time.
