With eight players in the ATP top 50, France has reserved their seat at the table of world powers in the men's game. However, the French women have not enjoyed the same success, for only Alize Cornet has a history of proven results against the hierarchy of the game. With Paris and the next Grand Slam on the horizon, help may be arriving from a 20-year-old by the name of Caroline Garcia.

Much has been documented in regards to Cornet, her court personality, and turbulent emotions. This season has seen her ascend to new heights behind victories over Serena Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Simona Halep, as well as her first hard-court title in Katowice.

While overshadowed by Cornet, Garcia has improved her ranking by 24 spots since the beginning of the season as she has risen near the top 50. The Lyon native has claimed victories this year against Jelena Jankovic, Eugenie Bouchard and Klara Koukalova (formerly Zakopalova), all within the last two months. But perhaps her most impressive result was a loss to Serena Williams, when Garcia pushed the world No. 1 to three tough sets in Miami before succumbing. Marking her improvement, the French woman raised her level from straight-sets losses to Williams at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2013.

In her most recent tournament, Garcia underscored her newfound success by taking her first WTA title on the red clay in Bogota. There, she defeated world No. 9 Jankovic in straight sets for her first top-10 win. As a footnote, she became the first woman to capture a singles-doubles sweep in the WTA since Serena Williams pulled off the feat in the 2012 Olympics. Garcia and her partner, Lara Arruabarrena Vecino, took the doubles title in Bogota as well.

Curiously, Garcia showed few signs before her recent run that a spike in her game lay around the corner. She had fallen in the first round of nine straight tournaments between last September and this February. Very few would have predicted the turnaround that started in Acapulco after that drought. Reaching a semifinal there, Garcia showed mental toughness that has continued to pay dividends.

Garcia has the power game to battle toe-to-toe with the best, particularly from the baseline. In the past, her serve (while strong) had been inconsistent. But recently it has given her control over her service games. Against Jankovic in Bogota, Garcia put her formidable first serve in play 67% of the time, winning 69% of those points. The veteran Serb, a solid returner, mustered only two breaks against the youngster.

For most young players, harnessing power in relation to unforced errors is vital. Finding that fine line can produce some head-scratching results in the process. Balancing her power with consistency will be critical for Garcia moving forward and has certainly aided her in her recent success.

At her young age, and with a number of developed weapons already in her arsenal, there is no wonder that Garcia is rising up the rankings. Building on her recent singles title, she shone this past weekend in Fed Cup play for her homeland. Garcia swept both Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys in straight-sets victories, carrying France past the United States.

It appears that Garcia has turned the corner and has a great deal of upside ahead of her. With Roland Garros fast approaching, perhaps France will have a second contender capable of making a run at their home Grand Slam. Regardless, in a country loaded with impressive competitors in the ATP, there is another young player loaded with potential navigating through the WTA.

Certainly, Caroline Garcia has become someone to watch as the road to Roland Garros unfolds.