As Caroline Garcia made her final stand on Wednesday morning inside Court Philippe-Chatrier against Anna Blinkova, her effort was undeniable. Each time she faced a match point, the fifth seed brushed it aside to keep herself alive. In two Blinkova service games deep in the final set, Garcia saved seven match points as chants of “Caro, Caro!” pierced the air.
In the end, it did not matter. Blinkova steadied her nerves and served out the victory 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 on her eighth match point. With the defeat, France’s greatest hope for a home champion departed for another year.
