- Unseeded American Alycia Parks Defeats First Seed Carolina Garcia On Home Soil, 7-6, 7-5 to win her maiden WTA Singles Title.
Alycia Parks climaxed a breakout week by beating top seed Caroline Garcia in the Lyon Open final to clinch her first career title.
The unseeded 22-year-old fired down 15 aces and saved all 4 breaks points in a powerful hitting display as she beat world No. 5 Garcia 7-6(7) 7-5.
“I think France has a special part in my heart right now,” Parks said. “I’ll be back next year.”
Parks had a break point early in the opening set of the thriller, but Garcia managed to save it. Both players were very strong on their serve, taking things to a tiebreaker to determine the outcome of the first set. Parks edged out Garcia 9-7 to take the lead.
“It feels amazing to hold my first WTA tour-level championship trophy,” said Parks, who clinched victory with a double fault from Garcia.
“Words can’t explain. Just last year, I was in an [ITF Challenger] $60,000 final, and now I have won a WTA 250.
Parks climbed up the rankings towards the end of 2022 by winning back-to-back WTA 125 titles, but has broken new ground this week by making her first tour-level semi-final and final.
Garcia was gunning for her 12th WTA title on home soil, but couldn’t convert any of four break points she had.
“I made sure I focused on my service games today to get through the match, because I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy match,” said Parks.
“So just staying within myself, and fighting for every point, and that got me through the match.”
With Victory in Lyon, Parks is just one spot out of the top50. She joints on point with fellow fast-rising star Linda Noskova Who’s ranked 50.
