Dominika Cibulkova crashes out by Roberta Vinci in the opening round – Mutua Madrid Open 2012
Slovakian number one, Dominika Cibulkova, was edged out by the Italian star, Roberta Vinci, in straight sets at the Mutua Madrid Open 2012 on Sunday. She suffered a 3-6, 2-6 loss at the hands of the world number 20 in the opening round at this blue clay court event which is part of the 2012 WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Tour.
The 14th seeded Slovak failed to cash in any of the two break chances she sought and lost her serve four times, eventually bowing out to Vinci in one hour and seven minutes. Facing each other for the fifth time, Vinci not only advanced into the second round but also took lead in the head-to-head series by 3-2 against the Slovak.
Cibulkova made drastic start at the Park Manzanares and suffered the first blow in the third game to trail at 1-3. She held her remaining serves until she gifted away her serve again in the last game, subsequently registering a 3-6 defeat. The Slovak failed to seek any break opportunity and warded off four out of six breakpoints she came across.
Ranked 16th in the WTA Premier Rankings, Cibulkova carried her poor ways in the follow-up set and after losing her opening serve, she fell at 0-3. Regardless of keeping her following two serves, the Slovak lost her serve again in the last game and endured a 2-6 shock. Cibulkova found two break opportunities but squandered them.
Vinci on the other end smacked 16 aces and ruled throughout the match. She produced a better first serve share and impressively clicked 24 out of 33 points on it.
The ecstatic Italian was quoted in a court-side interview after earning the limelight, "I wasn't doing anything special - I was just serving so well, so fast. I played great and won against a great player today, so I'm very happy right now. I really like this tournament. I'm just taking it step by step and I'm looking forward to my second round match and playing doubles with Sara this week."
The Italian veteran will next face the Belgian star, Yanina Wickmayer, who downed Jarmila Gajdosova in straight sets to set-up this battle.
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