Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova secured the biggest victory of her career when she 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.
Cibulkova said: “Coming here for the first time and winning the biggest tournament of my life, I just have no words.
“When the ball just went in on the match point, it was the happiest moment of my life.”
Cibulkova lost her first two matches in Singapore this week.
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.
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 secured 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 utilised her exceptional defense to force the Slovakian into a few more errors.
She broke back to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
Cibulkova would not be denied, however, and her low-trajectory drives into the corners were becoming a problem Kerber was finding difficult to solve.
The seventh seed swarmed all over the German to break again and pull 5-2 clear.
Kerber secured her easiest hold of the match to force Cibulkova to serve for the set and the Slovakian proved up to the task.
She emphatically claimed 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 as she wrapped off the set 6-4.
Trending
- Hajj 2024: NAHCON describes Gov. Uzodinma as pillar of support
- TUC wants FG to pay wage award for March, April
- Suspension of Dana Air hasty, punitive — Flight Dispatchers
- Ferry deaths: CILT raises alarm as over 300 die in one year
- Smuggled explosives: Customs hands over 6,240 dynamites to DSS
- Anambra: NSCDC arrests eight illegal private guards, recovers weapons
- Health Workers Week: Stakeholders suggest way out of declining workforce
- Review of: ‘Till My Change Comes,’ by Motunrayo Olumakaiye