French Open 2023: Anna Blinkova stuns local favourite Caroline Garcia in three-set thriller to reach third round

Hopes of a home champion at the French Open are all but over after fifth seed Caroline Garcia blew a one-set lead to suffer a shock second-round exit against Anna Blinkova.

Garcia, the top-ranked French player across the men’s and women’s singles draws as the No. 5 seed, got off to a strong start by taking the opener to the delight of a boisterous home support on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

But her serve fell apart in the second as world No. 56 Blinkova mustered an impressive response, breaking twice to level things up before edging a knife-edge decider to claim a 4-6 6-3 7-5 victory in two hours and 51 minutes.

“I am very happy. Caroline is a great player and a great fighter, fighting until the end. It was crazy. It’s a really important victory for me. I’ll never forget this match,” Blinkova said on court.

“I try to concentrate game by game, and day by day. I love the surface, the energy and the appreciation and support of the crowd. It was a wonderful show for the spectators.”

The result marked the latest disappointment for Garcia on in Paris as she exited her home Grand Slam in the second round for the third year in a row.

Blinkova, meanwhile, is enjoying her joint-best campaign at Roland-Garros by matching her run to the third round in 2019, and the Russian will face Elina Svitolina next.

A lively crowd on Philippe-Chatrier made their voices heard from the off as the French crowd roared and brass bands blared in support for the home favourite.

Garcia repaid them quickly with an early break, seizing a fourth break point chance in Blinkova’s second game to take charge of the opener.

It proved to be decisive. Both players held firm and Garcia kept her cool when serving for the set, sending Blinkova the wrong way with a superb backhand winner before landing an ace on set point to close it out in 44 minutes.

The fifth seed got off to a dream start in the second, producing a deft drop shot that had Blinkova scampering in vain to the net before a forehand winner and another drop over the net secured the early break.

But just as Garcia looked to be enjoying herself, the Russian profited on a wobbly service game to earn an instant break-back and level things up once more.

Garcia’s next service game was a disaster as she coughed up a triple break point before double-faulting to put the 24-year-old in the driving seat to set up a decider.

The Frenchwoman’s serve continued to deteriorate as she had to rescue two break points but couldn’t see off a third, leaving Blinkova serving for the set.

Garcia came back to life as she clawed a break back at the sixth attempt in an epic 12-minute game before holding, leaving her needing a second break in a row to level things up.

But Blinkova shook off any nerves to produce an impressive love hold, sending the match to a decider.

The Russian took the early advantage, breaking early to take a 2-1 lead and quieten the home crowd after a 16-minute game.

The set remained on serve until Blinkova had the chance to serve for the match, when Garcia came to life by saving three match points and breaking back at the fourth attempt.

But things soon fell apart again as the Russian broke straight back to earn a second crack at serving for the match.

In a topsy-turvy end to the contest, a determined Garcia saved another five match points and squandered two chances to break before Blinkova eventually converted to finish the job at the ninth attempt.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, ninth seed

6-3 6-4 to reach the third round.

Kasatkina won 86% of her first serve points and claimed four breaks in a one hour, 42 minute victory on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

She will face No. 69 Peyton Stearns of the United States, who earned a shock 6-2 1-6 6-2 win over 17th seed Jelena Ostapenko, in the third round.

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