(October 22, 2011) After falling short in Linz, World No. 20 Dominika Cibulkova gave herself another chance for her first tour-level title with a dominating 6-0, 6-2 victory over Elena Vesnina at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. She will have to get by Kaia Kanepi in the final on Sunday, who needed two hours 29 minutes to get by Lucie Safarova 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3.
The last seed remaining, Cibulkova had little trouble returning the serve of Vesnina, winning 67 percent of serves and breaking the Russian’s serve in all seven games. Not known for her strong serving, the 5-foot-3-inch Cibulkova struggled on her serve in the second set, winning only 13 of 27 points on her serve and being broken twice.
The woman from Slovakia has been ranked as high as No. 12 despite never having won a tour-level event.
Kanepi had a difficult time in her match with Safarova, as the two hard hitting women each hit 10 aces for the match. Kanepi was just slightly stronger on the return, earning six breaks in 18 chances while surrendering her own serve three times in seven opportunities.
Kanepi has struggled this year, dropping to her current No. 43 after spending time in the Top 20 earlier this year. The Estonian had her troubles, but managed to hold a higher percentage of points won on both serve and return to gain the pivotal breaks to reach her first final since her lone tour-level title in Palermo last year.
Cibulkova will have to overcome two personal hurdles in earning her maiden title. She is now winless in three finals, and holds a 0-2 record against Kanepi, including a loss earlier this year in Paris. Both matches between the players have gone to three sets.