Dominika Cibulkova avenged one of the worst losses in a WTA Tour final, outlasting Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6 6-4 6-4 to win the Stanford event on Sunday in California.
Seven months after failing to win a game against Radwanska in the Sydney final, Cibulkova came out aggressively to put the top seed on the run. Third-seeded Cibulkova overcame two service breaks in the final set to win the final four games.
The Slovak sealed the match on the fifth championship point with a backhand crosscourt winner. She fell to the court and covered her face in celebration as her father Milan ran out of the stands to give her a hug.
"He got a little bit emotional," she said, smiling.
The victory gave Cibulkova her third career singles title and first win against Radwanska in four attempts. Radwanska, ranked No.4 in the world, fell to 12-5 in WTA finals.
The Polish star started the year by winning back-to-back tournaments at Auckland and Sydney, where she crushed Cibulkova 6-0 6-0. It was the first whitewash in a final since November 2006 and the only one in Cibulkova's career.
The rematch had a far different feel from the start.
Cibulkova won the opening game on her serve, but Radwanska hit an overhead winner to break at 3-2. She also hit a forehand winner down the line for another break to take the first set.
After losing the first seven break points she earned, Cibulkova began going for more winners and finally came through. She went ahead 4-3 and took the second set.
But Cibulkova double-faulted to go down 3-1 in the final set, then immediately broke back with a flurry of all-or-nothing shots that Radwanska couldn't handle. Cibulkova double-faulted again to hand Radwanska a 4-2 lead, only to force Radwanska to net a forehand for a fourth consecutive game with a service break.
With a chance to serve out the match at 5-4, Cibulkova nearly crumbled. She sailed forehands long on her first three championship points, then held off a service break before coming up short chasing a crosscourt volley by Radwanska on the fourth championship point.
Finally, after a long baseline rally, Cibulkova ripped the backhand winner.
She is 3-5 in WTA finals and is projected to rise from No.25 to No.21 in the rankings.
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