The 4th in the world, made a perfect entry, quietly disposing of the Canadian Katherine Sebov (190th and qualifying) 6-3, 6-0, Tuesday in Melbourne.
“The first six-seven games were tight, but getting the break freed me“commented the 29-year-old Frenchwoman. She perfectly set up her forward game to knock out her opponent (22 winners and 5 aces). “It’s the first Major of the year and the first time I’ve won on the Rod Laver court.“, she underlined with a big smile.
Winner of the Masters and semi-finalist of the US Open last year, Garcia will face another Canadian in the second round, the finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2021 Leylah Fernandez (40th). The Australian Major is the one of the four that has been the least successful for her historically: she only reached the round of 16 there once (2018) and was left with a defeat in the first round last year.