Dominika Cibulkova vs. Urszula Radwanska: QF preview – Mercury Insurance Open 2012
Second seeded Dominika Cibulkova from Slovakia will square off against the Polish number two, Urszula Radwanska, in the quarter-finals at the Mercury Insurance Open 2012 on Friday. Cibulkova tumbled New Zealand’s number one, Marina Erakovic, in straight
sets while the Pole crippled the local lucky loser, Melanie Oudin, with a breadstick.
Both players fought each other twice in 2009 with Radwanska stunning the Slovak at the East West Bank Classic presented by Herbalife in a three-set thriller in their last encounter. Cibulkova on the other hand conquered the Pole at the Wimbledon Championships
in June and levelled their head-to-head series by 1-1.
The blooming Pole is on fire from early June as she conquered the Nottingham ITF event in United Kingdom. She kept momentum flowing in other grass court tournaments and secured a title-round berth at the UNICEF Open in Netherlands (lost to Nadia Petrova
in the final round).
Coming from a final eight showing at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, the Pole shocked sixth seeded Slovak, Daniela Hantuchova, in her opening round match. She carried her rhythm and devastated the 20-year-old, Oudin, in one hour and five minutes
before setting up this date.
Radwanska dusted away the lone breakpoint she came across and cashed in five out of six break chances, subsequently sealing the deal with a 6-2, 6-1 score line. The 21-year-old also clobbered a better first serve share of 68 per cent and spectacularly clicked
23 out of 26 points on it.
The Slovakian top on the other hand required almost one and a half hour-long marathon to trash Erakovic for the second straight time. She withstood 10 aces struck by Erakovic and capitalised on four out of five break chances to steal the show.
Cibulkova was quoted after winning her opening match at the La Costa Resort and Spa:
"Especially first set I was playing well and relaxed, but in the second set I started to make it tougher for myself. I was really happy to close it out, because if it got to 5-all it could have gotten dangerous."
The 23-year-old is in great shape this circuit as she cruised into the final eight at the last five out of six tournaments she entered. Her only early exit came at the Wimbledon Championships at the hands of the Czech underdog, Klara Zakopalova.
In the second set, the Slovak spilled many unforced errors and became frustrated. She reflected:
"I want to be perfect, so when I do some mistakes I turn into a negative person. Sometimes I don't think the right way. That's what I'm working on. I think sometimes my behaviour on the court isn't the best - I think that's what is keeping me from being
in the Top 10."
Cibulkova may be the higher ranked player in her match against the Pole but she needs to lift-up her game in order to break the jinx and secure a semi-final spot. She is expected to formulate a 7-5, 6-2 victory against the in-form Pole.
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