SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
Search:
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Latest News
Featured News
Book Reviews
Videos
ATP Singles
ATP Doubles
WTA Singles
WTA Doubles
News
Scores
Rankings
Lucky Letcord Podcast
Shop
Pro Gear
Pickleball
Gear Sale
Add to Flipboard Magazine.
Feisty Cibulkova Crowned in Carlsbad
By Chris Oddo
(July 22, 2012)—
Dominika Cibulkova
stormed back from a 4-1 deficit in the second set to defeat top-seeded
Marion Bartoli
6-1, 7-5 in the
Mercury Insurance Open
final on Sunday afternoon.
The Slovakian rises to No. 13 in the
WTA rankings
with the win, which was her second career title in six career finals.
“In the past finals I was too nervous and this was the first final I was just going for it,” said Cibulkova afterwards.
In a heated battle that featured aggressive shot-making from both players, Cibulkova found her range earlier, and more often in the one-hour, thirty-five-minute clash of two of the tour’s most intense competitors.
The 23-year-old Slovakian fought off all three break points she faced in the first set while winning 14 out of 24 points against the Bartoli serve and breaking three times.
In the second, it was Bartoli who raced out to an early lead, building a 4-1 cushion before Cibulkova rallied to take the next four games, winning 16 of 19 points to lead 5-4.
Bartoli would then stem the Cibulkova tide periodically, holding serve to 15 to level the set at five-all, but the determined second-seed proceeded to take the next two games to close out her first WTA title since she defeated Kaia Kanepi in the Moscow final last October.
The victory was Cibulkova’s 14th against top ten opposition and the 250th win of her career against 154 losses.
Hercog Defends Bastad by Beating Johansson in Thriller
21-year-old
Polona Hercog
had another fantastic week in Bastad, defending her 2011 title with a come-from-behind 0-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over France’s Mathilde Johansson in the Sony Swedish Open final on Sunday.
"Second year in a row is amazing,” said an elated Hercog afterwards. “Bastad has some kind of magic power for me, I guess.”
It was a match of ebbs and flows that saw Johansson win the first seven games of the match before Hercog rallied to save face by taking the second set 6-4.
In the third set it appeared that a repeat was in the cards for Hercog, as the Slovenian jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but Johansson—in search of her first career title—mounted a furious comeback to level the set at 5-all.
But Hercog, who came to Bastad on a four-match losing streak and winless since her semifinal run in Charleston this April, won the final two games to complete her title defense.
(Photo Credit: Stephen Dunn/ Getty)
Related Articles
WTA Finals Heading to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
At WTA Finals Cancun, Wind is the Buzzword
Sussing Out the Field: One Question for Every Player...
Zhu, Haddad Maia, Krejcikova Victorious on Day 1 in ...
Fernandez Powers into Hong Kong Semis
Tweets by Tennis_Now
Latest News
Swiatek vs Sabalenka Madrid Final: 5 Things to Know
Lehecka Retires in Pain, Sending Auger-Aliassime int...
Rublev Rolls Fritz to Reach 25th Final in Madrid
Sabalenka Tops Rybakina, Sets Madrid Final Rematch w...
Walking Wounded: Medvedev Bows out with Injury, Send...
TENNISNOW.COM
News
Blogs
Vlogs
Forums
Arcade
Members
TENNIS NOW TV
Daily News Vlog
Gear Guide
Catching Up With...
Feeds
News Feed
Blog Feed
TV Feed
ON TOUR
Scores
Player Profiles
ATP Calendar
WTA Calendar
TV Listings
PARTNERS
Instructional
Find Tennis Lessons Near You
Tennis Lessons Online with Tom Avery
Fuzzy Yellow Balls - Video Tennis Lessons
Tennis Gear
Tennis Express - Racquets, Shoes, and Apparel
About Us
|
Contact Us
|
Links Directory
|
Privacy Policy