Mind over matter for psyched-up Cibulkova
World No 6 Dominika Cibulkova took some time to be convinced of the value of using a sports psychologist but, having reaped the benefits, the Slovakian thinks every top player should give it a go.
Riding high from her career zenith when she won the WTA Finals at the first attempt in October,the27-year-oldsaidthe work she put in off the court with her Czech mind coach has made all the difference.
“Maybe three years ago, I thought if I give one hundred percent on the court then off the court it’s my time off and I don’t need to think about tennis,” said Cibulkova after beating Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Suwei on Thursday to reach the Australian Open third round.
“But now I know. My coach said, ‘Dominika, this is really important for you because your game is good but you need your head to be more stable, more strong’.
“In the beginning, I didn’t believe it was something that would really help me achieve what I want. But then I started to work with him and I see the results, then I started to believe.”
Cibulkova next faces Russian 30th seed Ekaterina Marakova and is on course for a potential quarterfinal with American great Serena Williams as she bids to reach the final for a second time after losing to China’s Li Na in 2014.
Her experience in vanquishing world No 1 Angelique Kerber in Singapore to win the season-ending WTA Finals means she would not adopt the same approach in Melbourne as she goes for her maiden Grand Slam title.
“It just put me in a different situation,” Cibulkova said.
“Even when I was top 10, 15 or 20, I couldn’t imagine how tough it was (at the top of the game) and how everybody is expecting now you will just be winning and doing so well.
“Now I am in a different position, I am trying to work even more to be stronger.
“That’s why I approached the final in Singapore a different way. I approached it in a way where I really believed myself I can win it.”
Common practice
Cibulkova started working with her psychologist in February 2015, a month before she underwent an operation on her left Achilles.
Britain’s world No.9 Johanna Konta, a possible fourthround opponent for Cibulkova in Melbourne, and Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro have also said they use mind coaches to put them through their mental paces. Cibulkova reckons the trio are not alone.
“I believe the best players, they work with a mental coach, they just don’t talk about it. I think they just want to keep it to themselves,” she said.