Cibulkova left speechless after biggest win of her life
SINGAPORE: 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 yesterday.
Cibulkova, making her debut in the elite eightwoman 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 US 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 No 5 in the rankings.
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.
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.
Unable to find her first serve in the second set, 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.