Third seed Dominika Cibulkova has survived a gallant Kiki Bertens and challenging weather to reach the semifinals at Hobart International 2016.
Cibulkova won 7-5 6-3 in a match that took more than seven hours to complete due to three lengthy rain delays.
“Today the conditions were really, really tough,” Cibulkova said. “I don’t remember I’ve ever had such tough conditions in a match; starting and stopping so many times.”
The signs were worrying for Cibulkova early. After a near impeccable serving display in round two, the Slovakian opened the match with a double fault. Bertens soon raced to a 3-1 lead, with some powerful hitting stunning the third seed. But Cibulkova lifted, breaking back in the sixth game as Bertens’ unforced error count started to climb.
Just when it looked like Cibulkova was in control, Bertens broke to take a 5-4 lead. The qualifier couldn’t serve it out though, with Cibulkova again finding an answer when she needed it. With the score level at 5-all, rain forced the players off court for two hours.
Cibulkova held to love on return, but rain again forced the players off court after just four points. This delay was just short of two hours again, at one hour and 50 minutes. Bertens returned to serve to force a tiebreak, but Cibulkova pounced to take the set 7-5.
The world No.37 meant business, racing to a 4-0 lead in the second. Bertens stemmed the run with two consecutive games of her own, but any momentum she was building was soon thwarted by rain. More inclement weather forced the players off court for a further 90 minutes.
With a sense of déjà vu, the match resumed with Bertens serving to stay in the set, this time at 2-5. The Dutchwoman held this time though, but couldn’t break Cibulkova in the next game. The third seed served it out to secure a semifinal spot.
“Today was really a mental thing,” she said. “I came back three times on the court and I was even stronger than I was before, so it was really important.”
Cibulkova admitted dealing with the rain delays was frustrating.
“You’re off the court, but you’re still on the court in your mind,” she said. “So I felt like I was on the court for seven hours.”
The Slovak apraised her opponent, who put up a fierce challenge.
“I know she is a good hitter, but today her defence was really, really good,” she said.
Cibulkova is excited to be into the semifinals, where she meets the winner of tonight’s quarterfinal between second seed Camila Giorgi and former world No.5 Eugenie Bouchard.
“This is why I came here to get some more matches under my belt and this has given me some confidence,” she said.
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