Iveta Benesova bags a lucky win against Dominika Cibulkova in the 1st round – Rogers Cup 2011
The 9th of August saw the continuation of the main draw of the Rogers Cup 2011, and the players contesting against each other at the Rexall Centre in York University, Toronto, Canada were Iveta Benesova against Dominika
Cibulkova. Although, both had bagged a set each, amidst the third set Cibulkova withdrew from the match because of an injury and gave the match to her opponent.
The two had drawn swords against each other once in 2007 and 2010. They met for the first time on the hard courts at the Bratislava 2, where Benesova had won the match with 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. Their last run in opposition to each other
was at Mutua Madrid Open in 2010, where Cibulkova avenged her loss and balanced the head to head score at 1-1.
Meeting for the third, time both the players wanted to outshine the other but the Czech Benesova gained an upper hand and eventually won the set after a cat and mouse chase. Commencing the first serve was Cibulkova who struck one
less double fault than her opponent, while her opponent smashed three aces.
Benesova broke her opponent thrice along with saving 4 of the 6 break points on her serve and was able to bag the set with four more points than her Slovak (Cibulkova) opponent. Even though, both the players had similar points
and it was a close shave between them, the Czech gained the upper hand as she had won 4% more points in her total service points, along with another 2% more in her total return points and hence, accomplishing 52% in her total set score.
The second set of the match was again a close call but this time it was Cibulkova who bagged the set with 2 points more than the Czech. This time the Slovak performed better in her serve and was able to ease away with a few points
because of winning a 100% of her break points, along with, saving 40% of her break points.
In the beginning of the first set neither of the players managed to perfect their accuracy and both had struck two net balls each. After that, Cibulkova had started playing relatively better in her performance and improved her
serving technique and clenched 50% of her total service points, which were exactly twice that of Benesova’s.
The world number 18 (Cibulkova) had proved that she had an exceptional return by not nose diving in her return points but attained a grand 75% of her total return points against Benesova, who barely mustered a 50% in her total
return points.
Leading 3-1 Cibulkova felt a sharp pain across her abdomen and called for a medical attendee who diagnosed her with the same ongoing left abdominal strain injury and hence gave the match to her opponent.
It was a lucky day for Benesova who really had no chance against the Slovak Cibulkova; she eventually secured a spot in the second round of the Rogers Cup 2011, where, she will eventually face Ana Ivanovic.
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