Caroline Garcia enters 2018 with an unprecedented weight of expectation as the newest French top-10 prospect.
As the Brisbane International’s fourth seed, a strong showing is expected of the 24-year-old in a stacked field.
Her last match of 2017 and first of the new season sees her pitted against last year’s Brisbane runner-up, countrywoman and fierce rival, Alize Cornet, in the opening match of the tournament on Pat Rafter Arena.
With a 3-0 head-to-head her in favour and with an impressive winning streak to claim titles in Wuhan and Beijing at the end of 2017, Garcia enters Sunday’s battle as a clear favourite.
She also ranks as one of the favourites for the title. In Beijing she took out Elina Svitolina, Petra Kvitova and new world No.1 Simona Halep to claim the biggest title of her career.
“I’m really looking forward [to playing] and, after a month off from competition, it’s nice to be back and finally compete,” Garcia said. “It’s a really nice tournament a lot of fans coming every single time so I’m really looking forward to it.”
The winner of five tour singles titles, Garcia is yet to reach the semifinal stage of a grand slam.
Next month’s Australian Open is a clear focus for her to break through at the top level.
“It’s weird to have a grand slam in the second week of the year but it’s an opportunity for everyone,” Garcia said. “There is always some surprise at the end of the tournament. I just want to be focussed on myself and do the best and see how I can go.”
A former top-20 player, after her strong showing in Brisbane, Cornet had a patchy 2017, failing to progress past the third round of a tournament after beating Agnieszka Radwanska in June at the French Open.