WTA Finals: Garcia beat Sabalenka to claim victory

France’s Caroline Garcia defeated Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to win the season-ending WTA Finals on Monday night.

Garcia overpowered her Belarusian opponent 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 at Fort Worth, Texas.

The 29-year-old is only the second French player to win the WTA title after Amelie Maursemo in 2005.

Garcia seized the initiative in the first set tie-break after both women had held to get it 6-6.

Remarkably, neither player conceded a break point during a hard-fought first set.

Question of who would blink first was answered in the breaker as Sabalenka's composure suddenly deserted her.

Although Sabalenka recovered to win the next two points, she double-faulted again to hand Garcia the set.

Sabalenka sufferied a break on the first game after Garcia drilled a winner up the line.

That break proved decisive as Garcia held the remainder of the set before serving for the match at 5-4.