Cibulkova Stuns Kerber In Thrilling WTA Finals Final
Dominika Cibulkova turned in a brilliant performance to upset World No.1 Angelique Kerber and claim her first ever WTA Finals title
Dominika Cibulkova turned in a brilliant performance to upset World No.1 Angelique Kerber and claim her first ever WTA Finals title
ROME, Italy – Eugenie Bouchard scored her biggest victory of the year to battle past No.2 seed Angelique Kerber 6-1, 5-7, 7-5 at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and claim her first win against a Top 10 player since 2014.
Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Rome right here on wtatennis.com!
Ahead of their second round clash, Bouchard showed her introspective side when asked about her 2016 campaign – she has reached two finals but also suffered two first-round losses.
“I think I’m still on that journey of trying to be the best player I can be,” she said in her press conference after defeating Jelena Jankovic. “I feel like I have been working hard every single day, and I feel like I have good guidance, I’m on the right path.
“So I think it’s just making sure I still continue to believe in myself, and, you know, trusting that if I do all the right things, if I work hard, if I have the talent, if I have good guidance, one day it has to come.”
The first big test of that mentality came in the form of Australian Open and Stuttgart champion Angelique Kerber, World No.2. Though Bouchard leads their head to head 2-1 – winning their two most recent encounters – the pair hadn’t faced each other since 2014, the year the Canadian rocketed up the rankings.
The top German came out of the gate playing uncharacteristically flat and error-prone, striking almost two per game in the first set alone. Bouchard took advantage of the free points, employing rock-solid defense to keep returning the ball back to Kerber to keep drawing out the errors.
Bouchard won eight games in a row to put the World No.2 down 6-1, 3-0. Kerber finally got a chance to break for 3-1 in the second set, aided by a costly double fault from the Canadian. That seemed to kick start her comeback into the match: Bouchard struck four errors in one game as Kerber rallied back to level the score at 4-4. A gutsy smash from the back of the court on break point gave Kerber the set.
The German carried her momentum into the decider, breaking early to go up 2-0, but Bouchard got the break right back and the pair were on even footing for most of the final set. A late break at 6-5 gave the Canadian the extra push she needed, and she took the match after two hours and twenty minutes.
“I did feel like I was playing better tennis today, especially at the beginning,” Bouchard said after the match. “That’s how I want to play. That gives me confidence knowing I can play that way against one of the best players in the world.
Despite her victory against No.2 Kerber being her first Top 10 win since her 2014 defeat of then-No.7 Caroline Wozniacki in Wuhan, Bouchard can still find learning moments from the match.
“For sure I’m happy to win, but at the same time I’m disappointed in myself having a lead like I had, you know. I feel like I could have done better in that second set,” she said.
“My goal next time is if I’m in a position like that is to really be more mentally disciplined and keep pushing. Because, you know, these players, if you give them a chance they will come back.”
An interview with Agnieszka Radwanska after her semifinal loss at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
SINGAPORE – Following two contrasting semifinals, Angelique Kerber and Dominika Cibulkova will renew acquaintances with the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global on the line. Here are 10 of SAP’s finest facts ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
(1) Angelique Kerber (GER #1) vs (7) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK #8)
Head-To-Head: tied 4-4
1) Familiar foes.
Cibulkova held the early edge in their clashes, racking up four wins over Kerber between 2009 and 2013. However, since then Kerber has edged ahead thanks to five straight victories, the latest of which came in an absorbing round-robin encounter earlier this week.
Since the introduction of the round-robin format in 2003, this is the sixth time players have locked horns twice at the same WTA Finals. The most recent occasion came in 2014, when Simona Halep defeated Serena Williams in the Red Group only to lose their final rematch four days later.
2) Mixed record in finals.
For all Kerber’s success in recent years, she still has a mixed record in finals. Although the German has broken the final hoodoo she suffered earlier in her career – between June 2012 and August 2014 she lost eight of nine – her overall win-loss record stands at 10-14. Cibulkova, too, has a history of near misses, winning only seven of the 17 she has contested
3) Can Cibulkova follow in Radwanska’s footsteps?
Cibulkova’s only win during the round robin came against Halep, after earlier losses to Kerber and Madison Keys. Since the WTA Finals switched format in 2003, only Agnieszka Radwanska in 2015 has gone 1-2 in the round-robin stage and lifted the title.
Rankings Watch: @cibulkova moves up to No.6, could go up to No.5 if she wins @WTAFinalsSG. Kuznetsova at No.9. https://t.co/jwopr3sSW6
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) October 29, 2016
4) Cibulkova’s ranking on the rise.
The year-end Top 4 is already confirmed – Kerber, Serena, Agnieszka Radwanska and Halep. But No.5 will be Cibulkova’s should she collect the title. Even if she fails to do so, by reaching the final she is guaranteed to rise to a career-high No.6.
5) Can Cibulkova make her big breakthrough?
This year, Kerber has joined the Grand Slam winner’s club thanks to victories at the Australian and US Opens. For all her career accomplishments, Cibulkova’s biggest titles have all come at the next rung down: the Premier events in Moscow (2011), Carlsbad (2012), Stanford (2012) and Eastbourne (2016). She has come close to breaking through this ceiling, though, reaching Grand Slam (Australian Open, 2014), Premier Mandatory (Madrid, 2016) and Premier 5 (Montréal, 2008, Wuhan 2016) finals.
6) Kerber’s annual earnings will surpass $10 million.
By reaching the final, Kerber will become the second player in WTA history (after Serena in 2013 and 2015) to surpass $10 million prize money in a single season. Cibulkova, meanwhile, can take her career earnings past the $10 million mark with victory in the championship match.
7) Cibulkova the comeback queen.
There were a number of false dawns for Cibulkova following her return from a serious Achilles injury last year. This March in Katowice she finally returned to the winner’s circle, and followed this up with a maiden Premier Mandatory final, in Madrid, and then further silverware, in Eastbourne and then Linz. Her Singapore heroics have taken her 2016 win tally to 52 – a number only bettered by Kerber (63).
8) Best returner in the business.
Kerber’s success this year has been built on her superb return game. In the semifinal against Radwanska she broke serve seven times, winning 37 of 61 points on return. She has now broken 21 times in her four matches this week.
9) The magnificent seven.
Kerber is the 19th player to win all three round-robin matches. Seven of those 19 went on to lift the title – Kim Clijsters (2003), Justine Henin (2007), Venus Williams (2008), Serena (2009, 2012, 2013), and Petra Kvitova (2011).
10) The exclusive leftie club.
Kerber is attempting to become just the fifth left-hander to win the title. The other four were Martina Navratilova (1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1986*), Sylvia Hanika (1982), Monica Seles (1990, 1991, 1992) and Kvitova (2011).
* In 1986, the WTA Finals were held twice, in March and November
Highlights from semifinal action at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Angelique Kerber in the final of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
The story of the tournament from the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
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An interview with Caroline Garcia after her win in the group stage at the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.
Elena Vesnina has Friday’s shot of the day at the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.