WUHAN: Caroline Garcia overpowered Australia’s Ashleigh Barty 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to claim her first Wuhan Open title on Saturday in a thrilling see-saw final in the Chinese city.

Ranked 20 in the world, Garcia battled her way through two tight sets against Barty before breezing the third to claim the biggest title of her career in two hours and 43 minutes.

“It was such a fight all the week and especially today,” the French player said after the match.

“A title is the best thing you can have in tennis, that’s why you fight all year long. I’m over the moon for sure.”

Garcia stormed her way into an early lead in the first set but a resilient Barty twice came from a break down to force a tiebreak that she went on to dominate.

The Aussie served for the match twice in the second, while her opponent also had two chances to nab the set before it was forced into another tiebreak.

The third set was simpler for Garcia, who fell to her knees in celebration after Barty fired a return into the net.—AFP