D. Cibulkova def. V. Azarenka in fourth round of French Open: 6-2, 7-6 (4) in 1h 47m Cibulkova gets off to a speedy start with a 40-0 edge on her serve. But then she hits a big bump in the road brought on by Azarenka's hustle and errors from Cibulkova's racquet ( two double faults); the game goes to deuce nine times and runs for fifteen minutes before Azarenka breaks through for the lead at 1-0. Still, Cibulkova is already stoked and playing with vigor; she darts around the court, returning expertly and shows some touch at net to break right back: 1-1. They are both hustling to track down the ball but this time Cibulkova holds her serve and takes the lead at 2-1. It's finesse from Azarenka (a backhand drop shot at net) against a thundering forehand from Cibulkova; Azarenka is reducing the pace, changing speeds while Cibulkova is stepping on the forehand gas and hitting with accuracy, drawing errors from Azarenka; Azarenka's serve goes to deuce but she gets the advantage and holds: 2-2. Cibulkova has a love service game and leads 3-2. Cibulkova gets two break points on Azarenka; Victoria erases one but Dominika presses forward and drives her forehand into Azarenka's backhand which finds the net: 4-2 Cibulkova. Losing only one point on her serve, Dominika holds again and reaches a 5-2 lead. At 30-40 Cibulkova gets the set point on Azarenka and when Victoria hits a long forehand Dominika takes the set in 47 minutes. An impressive, aggressive display from the Slovakian. Second set: Dominika's serve goes down to 15-40; she gets it to 30-40 but on a second serve Victoria makes her pay with a big forehand up the line: 1-0 Azarenka. Victoria gets into 15-40 trouble on her serve but gets it to deuce. Advantage Azarenka and she holds and has a 2-0 lead. Cibulkova holds with a love service game: 2-1 Azarenka. Reading Victoria's serve clearly, Dominika's forehand fires to a 0-40 advantage; Victoria gets a point back but then Cibulkova changes up her attack with a well-hidden backhand drop shot from the baseline that Azarenka hits wide as she slides toward the net: 2-2. Cibulkova's serve goes to deuce and she gets the advantage and the hold and the lead at 3-2. Victoria is in 15-40 trouble again thanks to that unstoppable Cibulkova forehand; Azarenka gets a point back but sends a backhand wide and is broken: 4-2 Cibulkova. Cibulkova's serve is at deuce and a neat forehand from Azarenka gives her the advantage. Deuce/ advantage Azarenka who moves her opponent around until she can come in to net for a winning forehand volley. Deuce/ advantage Azarenka and she breaks through as Cibulkova hits a double fault. It's 4-3 in favor of Cibulkova. Azarenka holds: 4-4. Azarenka is now picking up the blasts from Cibulkova and keeping them in play until she can find an opening for a winner. But Cibulkova keeps pounding away no matter what; she holds for a 5-4 lead. However, Victoria seems undisturbed and Dominika is overhitting the ball now; Azarenka has a love service game: 5-5. Cibulkova's pace drops a bit and she has a 15-40 deficit on her serve. It goes to 30-40 but she can't find her focus now and is broken: 6-5 Azarenka. The balance shifts again as Azarenka's serve goes to 15-40; Victoria hits a forehand from the baseline that goes wide and she's broken, it's 6-6 and tiebreaker time. The TB: 1-1; 2-1 Azarenka; 2-2; 3-2 Cibulkova on a sweeping backhand volley coming in to net; 4-2 Cibulkova who nails a winning passing shot as Azarenka comes to net; 4-3 Cibulkova; 5-3 Cibulkova; 6-3 Cibulkova on a wide Azarenka forehand; great net coverage from both players at net but Azarenka wins the point and it's 6-4 Cibulkova. A drop shot from Cibulkova has Azarenka scrambling into net; Victoria taps the ball over and Dominika rips a backhand winner for the game set match. Well it was just a nearly relentless assault from Cibulkova and though Azarenka steadied herself greatly in the second set and pushed it into the tiebreaker. But the momentum seemed to stay on Cibulkova's side of the net as she loaded up her shots with heavy forehand returns that all too often found fair ground for the winning point. An upset to be sure especially when you look at the head to head where Victoria truly dominated with a 7-1 record over Dominika. But active record are always changing; today Cibulkova made the record change once more. Well done Dominika. |
