Superb Cibulkova storms to WTA Finals title
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[October 31, 2016]
By John O'Brien
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Dominika
Cibulkova put on a serving masterclass to secure the biggest victory
of her career when the Slovakian stormed to a 6-3 6-4 triumph over
world number one Angelique Kerber to claim the WTA Finals title on
Sunday.
Cibulkova, making her debut in the elite eight-woman event, was at
her effervescent best against her overwhelmed opponent, never giving
the top seed an inch as she sealed an unlikely victory with a
monumental hold of serve in a tense finale.
Kerber, the Australian and U.S. Open champion, is known for her
resilience and fought to the bitter end of an absorbing contest but
Cibulkova gritted her teeth and claimed victory with a lucky net
cord on her fourth championship point.
"Coming here for the first time and winning the biggest tournament
of my life, I just have no words," said Cibulkova, who lost her
first two matches in Singapore this week.
"When the ball just went in on the match point, it was the happiest
moment of my life."
Cibulkova lost a tight three-setter to Kerber in her first
round-robin match but turned the tables on the German in the final
and will climb to a career-high world number five in the next
rankings.
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The 27-year-old enjoyed a nerve-settling comfortable hold to open
the contest and immediately set about attacking a tentative Kerber,
her booming forehand securing an early break as she raced into a 3-0
lead following another strong service game.
Kerber was slowly growing into the contest but still struggling to
contain her opponent's all-action style and the German would have
been relieved to stave off another threat in her next service game
to finally get on the scoreboard.
A loose forehand in the previous game was the first sign of a drop
in intensity in Cibulkova's game and Kerber utilized her exceptional
defense to force the Slovakian into a few more errors as she broke
back to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
FOREHAND WINNER
Cibulkova would not be denied, however, and her low-trajectory
drives into the corners were becoming a problem Kerber was finding
difficult to solve and the seventh seed swarmed all over the German
to break again and pull 5-2 clear.
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Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia celebrates with her trophy after
defeating Angelique Kerber of Germany. REUTERS/Edgar Su
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Kerber secured her easiest hold of the match to force Cibulkova to
serve for the set and the Slovakian proved up to the task,
emphatically claiming the opener with a powerful forehand winner on
her first set point.
The German appeared more focused at the start of the second set but
Cibulkova was timing the ball beautifully and matching her opponent
shot-for-shot, threatening a break in the third game which Kerber
survived, emitting a primal scream.
Unable to find a first serve, Kerber was struggling to stay in the
contest as Cibulkova continued to feast on her apprehensive play and
the Slovakian stormed ahead with a brilliantly worked break in the
seventh game.
Cibulkova held easily to move to the brink of the title but, as was
the case in the opener, Kerber held firm to put the onus on her
opponent to serve it out.
"I gave everything I had on the court and it's an honor to play on
the big stage in front of my incredible fans," Kerber said.
"I've had an incredible year and I'm looking forward to the next
one."
(Editing by Nick Mulvenney)
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