Cibulkova Upsets Kerber to Win WTA Finals

October 31, 2016 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff

Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova won the biggest title of her career on Sunday, downing world number one Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-4 to win the WTA Finals in Singapore.

“This is the biggest moment of my career,” the 27-year old said afterwards. “It’s hard to describe in words. I have to congratulate Angelique Kerber, you are an inspiration for me to play hard this year. With hard, everything is possible.”

Kerber came into the final looking as good as any player, breezing through the round-robin stage and dismantling Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals, but Cibulkova was just too good on Sunday. She came out firing, playing fast and aggressive and putting the pressure on Kerber, who never really found her rhythm.

Cibulkova couldn’t convert on her first three match points and had to save two break points to finally close out Kerber.

The win bumps Cibulkova to number five in the world rankings, while Kerber will finish 2016 as the number one player in the world. 

Russia's Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova captured the doubles title, beating Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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