Keys routs Cibulkova to boost WTA Finals position

[October 26, 2016]  The Sports Xchange

No. 6 seed Madison Keys dominated No. 7 seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday to even her record at 1-1 at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore and improve her chances of moving past the round robin stage.

Top-seeded Angelique Kerber dispatched of No. 3 seed Simona Halep 6-4, 6-2, and needs only to win a set against Keys on Thursday to secure her spot in the next round. Even if Keys were to win in straight sets, Kerber (2-0) would advance out of the Red group unless Halep (1-1) defeats Cibulkova (1-1) in straight sets.

Keys must beat Kerber in straight sets to maintain control of her own destiney. Halep defeated Keys in straight sets to open the tournament, with sets won vs. loss the tiebreaker in determining who advances.

Keys needed only an hour and five minutes to get past Dominika Cibulkova, who won only four games off Keys' serve in the first set. Cibulkova double-faulted to get broken at 2-2 in the second set, and Keys cruised from there.

"I just really allowed myself to play good tennis," Keys said following her first career victory at the season-ending event. "I think a big part of it was just knowing more what to expect, and knowing those certain feelings were going to come up and it was no longer a new thing anymore.

"I think that just kind of gave me the ability to regroup and refocus on what I needed to do."

Halep put up a good battle in the first set Tuesday, but Kerber needed just 22 minutes to polish off the second set.

"I'm feeling very good here. I'm really enjoying being back here on the center court and playing my best tennis," Kerber said. "I think we played a great match today.

"I try every time I step on court to give my best. Of course every match here is tough - it's the best eight players in the world - and I'm just trying to focus on my game."

The White group resumes play on Wednesday, with Karolina Pliskova and Svetlana Kuznetsova battling to improve their records to 2-0, while defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska and Garbine Muguruza try to avoid falling to 0-2 following three-set losses in their openers.

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