Unseeded Italian Camila Giorgi upset six Top 50 opponents this week in Montreal to clinch the National Bank Open title and secure a comeback to the Top 35 in the WTA rankings.
Making fourth main-draw appearance at the National Bank Open, where her best previous result was a second-round showing in 2016, Giorgi eliminated a slew of top names to clinch her third title and first at the WTA 1000 level.
After wins over Elise Mertens, Nadia Podoroska, Petra Kvitova, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, Giorgi defeated fourth-seeded Karolina Pliskova 6-3 7-5 in Sunday’s final. The world No.71 hit seven aces to Pliskova’s four and won 71% of first-serve points.
Giorgi broke Pliskova twice to confidently take the first set. Leading 3-1 in the second set, Giorgi double faulted to hand Pliskova a break point. Playing her first event since losing the Wimbledon final to Ashleigh Barty, the Czech managed to get the set get back on serve. After one hour and 40 minutes of play, it was Giorgi who capped off the incredible week with another victory and shed tears of happiness. (photo: Jimmie48)
I saw this match and Cami was really focused as she was all week. I believe part of that focus was the fact that her father was not in the stands to be a source of distraction. Good on her. She still only knows one way to play and that is to utilize power and more power, but this time she held back just a little and did not try to change direction and go down the line and stayed in the rally just a little bit longer. She should learn from this (I think her new coaches stressed this to her) as it could bode well for her at the US Open.