Lizette last Aussie standing in Hobart
QUEENSLAND’S Lizette Cabrera is the sole Australian survivor after a sterling comeback win at the Hobart International.
The world No.129 credited her mental strength as she overcame blustery conditions and being a set down against tournament eighth seed, world No.46 Caroline Garcia in a little over two hours 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Cabrera finally won the arm-wrestle in the second set before dominating her French opponent to blitz through the decider, breaking Garcia three times.
“I didn’t think I was playing my best tennis, (but) I don’t think Caroline was either,” Cabrera said.
“It was kind of tough sometimes with the wind picking up here or there but I thought mentally I was really strong for the whole three sets and had the edge over here.
“I was just really happy with the way I composed myself.”
Hobart is a favourite hunting ground for the Townsville 22-year-old, being the tournament where she won her first ever WTA match.
Now, having defeated Garcia, she has big plans for the rest of this year.
“For me 2020 is going to be the year of the breakthrough hopefully,” she said.
“I really want to crack into the top 100 and just keep playing at a good level consistently because there are so many weeks of the year we are on the road and that is my goal.”
Cabrera was not the only feel-good story out of the Hobart International yesterday.
American CiCi Bellis had her first WTA main draw win in two years with a three-set win over the Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
Bellis, the WTA’s 2017 newcomer of the year, has endured two year of wrist and elbow injuries and even survived a match point in the second set to register the victory.