“Want to Go For Big Titles”: Caroline Garcia Parts with Father as Coach, Hires Gabriel Urpi

French tennis star Caroline Garcia is keen to take a quantum leap in women’s tennis, and in line with her ambitions in the game, she has decided not to take coaching help from her father Louis-Paul anymore.

The current World Number 53 had been coached by her father since she turned professional but realized that a change of direction is necessary if she has to chase championship titles at marquee events.

Speaking to French publication L’Equipe, 27-year-old Garcia said that she is currently camping at the Rafa Nadal tennis academy and is training under the watchful eyes of experienced WTA coach Gabriel Urpi and her personal physiotherapist.

Caroline Garcia says Gabriel Urpi will be her coach till French Open

Garcia informed that as per an understanding reached with Urpi, he will remain her coach till the end of the French Open.

On parting with her father as coach, she said it was her “own decision” and it was the right moment to make it.

“It was my decision. Today, I’m more sure of myself, I have more confidence in myself, it was perhaps the right moment for this evolution. I want to go for big titles. If I am doing it now, it means I’m ready to do it,” the Frenchwoman said.

Garcia has trained at Rafael Nadal’s Academy since 2019

Garcia added that she had been training at Nadal’s academy since 2019 and was previously acquainted with her new coach when he was involved with the French national team at the Fed Cup (now known as the Billie Jean King Cup).

Urpi has an impressive coaching resume, having previously worked with the likes of stalwarts Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Conchita Martinez, and more recently, Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina.

The 27-year-old said that since she had worked with Urpi before, she knew what to expect from him coaching-wise and the sort of advice that he can provide to raise the level of her tennis and put herself in contention for major titles.

“With Gabi, I knew I would have repetition, that I was going to run. I know what to expect. I am ready to make the effort,” Garcia said.

The French tennis star holds seven career Tour titles, including back-to-back championship trophies at Wuhan and Beijing in 2017.

Her run of wins even took her to a career-high ranking of No. 4 in singles. However, since 2019, she has struggled to win two matches in a row, prompting her to seek a new direction to come out of the slump.

Read More: Rafael Nadal’s Soul is Everywhere – Caroline Garcia

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