TITLE JOY FOR DASHA
DARIA Gavrilova (pictured) has roared into the world’s top 20 after dramatically claiming her first WTA Tour title yesterday. The 23-year-old came back from the brink of defeat to beat second seed Dominika Cibulkova 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Connecticut Open final. Gavrilova will carry a careerhigh ranking, No. 20, into the US Open, which starts tonight. The Russian-born baseliner, who has jumped six places, had eliminated top seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-finals, 6-4, 6-4, to be the first Australian to make the New Haven decider. Slovak Cibulkova twice dropped serve in the opening set before winning four of the last five games to take the lead.
But Gavrilova, who lost her previous tour finals to major winners Svetlana Kuznetsova and Sam Stosur, refused to yield.
She broke Cibulkova twice in the second set while fighting off four break points on her own serve to level the match.
Trailing 4-3, and down a service break, in the final set, Gavrilova surged back to win the last three games.
On sealing a fabulous win, Gavrilova vaulted advertising signs to celebrate with her former coach, Nicole Pratt, and Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik.
Gavrilova is eager to end the grand slam season on a high after losing first-rounders at the French Open and Wimbledon. She reached the fourth round in Melbourne.