NOTTINGHAM, Great Britian - For the first time in four meetings this year, and over the course of two days, Caroline Garcia scored a victory over Jennifer Brady this year.

The top seed finished off a semifinal victory against the unseeded American on Sunday morning at the Nature Valley Open to reach her second final of the season, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

The pair's semifinal match was suspended due to rain on Saturday evening, with the former World No.4 leading by a break at 4-3 in the final set, and she won both games upon resumption to set up a championship match against No.2 seed Donna Vekic.

"It was very difficult. I knew I had to start the match very strong, because it was only a couple of points," Garcia said.

"I wanted really to be very focused and aggressive on my first service game, because I knew it would be important to be at 5-3.

"I'm very happy and proud with how I fought today. I got ready for today's match...and I wanted it very badly."

Brady nearly pulled off a great escape on serve after the resumption, as she saved three consecutive match points from 0-40 with bold play, but the top seed game through on her fourth chance to move through the to final.


On Saturday, the World No.80 showed the form that took her to three victories against Garcia on hard courts this year, as she broke in the fifth game of the opener and lost just five points in five service games to take a one-set lead.

Garcia began to turn the match in her favor, however, after a crucial hold from 0-40 down in the third game of the second set, before the match was suspended for the first time with the Frenchwoman up a break.

When they returned, the top seed again staved off three break points in the seventh game en route to the final set, and broke Brady twice before the first changeover of the decider to put herself in command of the match.

Garcia will look to win her first title of the season against Vekic, against whom she holds a 3-2 head-to-head advantage, not before 3 p.m. later on Sunday.

The pair have never played on grass, and four of their five career meetings have gone three sets.

"It's going to be a good final for sure. She's had a great season so far, and she's had a lot of success on grass courts," the Frenchwoman said.

"I'm really looking forward to this match. It's the best I can ask for, a final against the No.2 seed of this tournament, so I just want to get myself ready and enjoy.

"It's really a good test for me."