Dominika Cibulkova credits her new mental approach to the game as helping her move into the semi-finals of the WTA Tour's Stanford tournament with a 7-5 6-3 win over Urszula Radwanska on Friday.
"When things get tight, I start to think more," the third-seeded Cibulkova said.
Cibulkova won her first four games and was ahead 5-1 when No. 7 Radwanska fought back to make it 5-5.
"I wanted to be more active because she likes to wait for mistakes," Cibulkova said. "I was trying to play fast on the baseline. I started going down the line more in the second set. When I'm playing well the fast court is good for me."
The quick pace wasn't as compatible for Radwanska, who pulled a muscle just above her right ankle and needed to be taped to finish the match.
"I couldn't move that well in the second set," she said. "When it was 2-1, I suddenly felt the pain and couldn't go on."
Radwanska said she still expects to play at the Southern California Open, which begins Monday in Carlsbad.
Cibulkova, who has played at the event the past six years, reaching the semi-final two years ago, will face fifth-seeded Sorana Cirstea, a 6-3 6-3 winner over Olga Govortsova.
Fourth-seeded Jamie Hampton also advanced, beating qualifier Vera Dushevina 6-4 6-3.
Hampton will face the winner of the match between top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and sixth-seeded Varvara Lepchenko.
"I lost the last time we played and I was cautious coming in," Hampton said about Dushevina. "I tried to break down her forehand more this time, instead of her backhand. I also served better."
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