Caroline Garcia opens up about her coaching scenario and her father on French radio

The new WTA Finals champion addresses her coaching set up and the important role her father plays in her team

Caroline Garcia with her team at the WTA Finals Image Credit: Zuma/ Panoramic

November 14, 2022

Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia came into the WTA Finals without the coach, Bertran Perret, who had worked with her throughout the season, and walked away with the title – the biggest of her career so far.

Tennis Majors

The decision of Perret to walk away from the team just days before the WTA Finals came as a surprise to many in the tennis world. In an interview to French radio “France Inter”, Garcia herself admits that even she found the timing surprising.

Caroline Garcia and Bertrand Perret during the 2022 Australian Open Image Credit: Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic

“There have been some difficult days. When you go through a whole season and so many experiences with a person in your box, a person who travels with you, there is obviously some habits that get formed,” Garcia said of Perret’s exit. “This team worked, there had been good chemistry. After a long season, he decided to leave and the timing was surprising. We had to compete with a point of reference that was missing.”

Caroline Garcia also spoke about why she decided to work Juan Pablo Guzman during the WTA Finals and the role that her father plays in her set-up.

The collaboration with my father never stopped. He still is in my team. Perhaps, his place changed.
Caroline Garcia

“We thought that it was the best option to take a temporary coach (Guzman) that already knew me to gain some time.”

About her father, she appeared surprised to be asked why she separated from him as a coach at the Spring of 2021. “The collaboration with my father never stopped. He still is in my team. Perhaps, his place changed but he was there at Fort Worth, at the US Open also, and even when he’s not there in person, he still represents a lot to me. His role evolves, through the years, he’s less and less on the court but he still is the person who knows me the best. He brings me a lot of things, to the team as well and he’s helping on the management part.”

Garcia, who ends 2022 with her best year-end ranking of No 4, also helped France beat Netherlands in the Billie Jean King Cup play-offs last week, beating Lesley Kerkhove in straight sets.