The Sauvaigo Complex in Cagnes sur Mer formally dressed in pink, like it has since 16 years, to receive for a whole week, the tennis Open GDF SUEZ tournament. This great event in women’s tennis on clay is now recognized as the third largest tournament in the world. EDF SUEZ proves in this event that it is sponsoring, the Group’s commitment with women’s tennis. The Open GDF SUEZ is a tournament that has established itself, as the winner of last year, the Russian Putintseva, only 17 years old, then 300th player in the world, is now 80th in the ATP rankings.
Virginie Razzano
The high level of the participants and the gain of $ 100,000 to the winner once again attracted the world’s top 100 players in the ATP rankings, including Japanese, Americans or Russians, who then will go and tread the sacred red earth of Roland Garros. The French were well represented, such as Caroline Garcia who has made good progress since last year and has received a wild card to enter directly into the main draw.
The tournament kickoff took place on Saturday, May 4, with the first round of qualifying. Seven French were competing and finally, Laura Thorpe, Chloe Paquet and Irina Ramialison joined in the second round two other French exempt from the first round thanks to their classification: the experienced Julie Coin and Severine Beltrame. Next, on Sunday, May 5th, was the draw for the final table with Senator Mayor of Cagnes sur Mer Louis Negre.
On May 6, after the final draw, the French Pauline Parmentier, Caroline Garcia and Blueberry Georges were opposed for the first round to players from qualifying.
In the second round of qualifying , one would have more expected from Julie Coin and Severine Beltrame, but finally the young Irina Ramialison and Chloe Paquet were able to take them out of the game. Later in the afternoon, Claire Feuerstein opposed to the seeded No. 1 Romina Oprandi and 53th player in the world, finally bowed after a good fight. As to Virginie Razzano, the 194th player in the world, after rambling with Russian Nina Bratchikova, the 110th player in the world, finally won his match.
On May 7, Caroline Garcia and Myrtille Georges have qualified at the expense of players from qualifying. However, Irina Ramialison, Irena Pavlovic, and more surprisingly, Pauline Parmentier, were eliminated.
On May 8, after 12 games in a row to Alexandra Cadantu, Virginie Razzano had qualified for the quarterfinals of the Open. As for Myrtille Georges who failed to imitate her, lost against Mandy Minella.
On May 9, Caroline Garcia, after a difficult passage, eventually managed to get a ticket to the quarterfinals by beating Colombian Catalina in 3 sets. Including Virginie Razzano, two French were remaining on the list for the quarterfinals Friday.
On May 10, Caroline Garcia got the best on the German Tatjana Maria in 3 sets to provide a place in the last four of the Open, like in 2012. Virginie Razzano, failing to imitate her, lost 6-1 6-4 against top-seeded No. 1 Romina Oprandi.
On May 11, Estrella Cabeza-Candela was forced to forfeit due to a hip injury propelling Caroline Garcia into the Open final. A great final for the young French with a promising career, which had to attempt to win her first tournament against Maryna Zanevska after having won Romina Oprandi in two sets in the semi-finals.
On May 12, the final French Caroline Garcia got the better on the Ukrainian Maryna Zaneveska to offer herself in three sets (6-0, 4-6, 6-3) the first title of her career.
After having known only lower final tournaments, Caroline succeeds Kasakhe Yulia Putintseva, winner in 2012 and became the first French to win at Cagnes sur Mer since Severine Beltrame’s victory in 2004.
An outstanding, full of suspense match for the French because, after winning the first set, the Ukrainian managed to overthrow the match, but Caroline Garcia had the merit to stay focused for regaining the advantage and finally concluding the meeting. Overcome with emotion, she fell to her knees in the clay, before running in tears into the arms of her parents.
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