Dominika Cibulkova and Francesca Schiavone came into the match today with hopes of reaching the semifinal of the tournament in Katowice. Both players have played very well in the run up to the match, especially Schiavone who picked up an impressive straight sets victory over Alize Cornet.
Before the quarterfinal match up in Katowice, the two players had faced each other on three previous occasions. Cibulkova had the mental edge over Schiavone due to the fact that she had won every time the two had played. The Italian would have been hoping to finally get a victory over Cibulkova, but once again she could not find a way to get past the Slovakian.
Schiavone Fails To Keep The Lead
Cibulkova served first in the set and soon found herself 0-40 down. The Slovakian managed to save two of Schiavone's break point opportunities, however, it was too much of a task for her to prevent Schiavone from breaking her on the third time of asking. In the very next game, Cibulkova got herself back level in the set. After a disappointing opening to the match, the Slovakian found herself with three break point chances. Despite Schiavone's best efforts, she could do nothing to stop Cibulkova from taking the game on the first time of asking.
Over the next two games, both players held their serve with relative ease. Schiavone found herself back in the lead, after she broke Cibulkova to love in the fifth game of the set. The Italian the consolidated break, with a strong hold of serve to put herself further ahead in the set. In the seventh game, Schiavone found herself with another two opportunites to break Cibulkova's serve. This time around though, Cibulkova fought her way from behind to save the break points before going on to win the game.
After a strong love hold in the ninth game, Cibulkova quickly leveled the score in the set. The Slovakian worked herself into a position where she had two break point opportunities and despite Schiavone's best effort, Cibulkova took her second opportunity to win the game and put the set back on serve. Cibulkova then backed up the break to put herself 6-5 up and put pressure on Schiavone to hold her service game.
Schiavone had to win her service game, to take the set to a decisive tiebreaker. Unfortunately for the Italian, the pressure of this got the better of her, which allowed Cibulkova to take the set with her first set point. After being 5-3 up in the set and letting it get away, Schiavone was clearly disappointed during the changeover.
Cibulkova Comfortably Wins The Set
Schiavone looked to have put the disappointment of the first set behind her as she broke Cibulkova in the opening game of the second set. The Italian played some good tennis and made the most of her chance to put herself ahead in the set. Schiavone had the opportunity to put herself in a very strong position in the set, however Cibulkova was too strong and broke the Italian straight back.
After failing to consolidate the break, it all went downhill for Schiavone. The Italian had two more chances to put herself back ahead in the set, but Cibulkova, managed to save them both before holding her service game. Cibulkova then made Schiavone rue her failure to take the break points as she broke the Italian in the fourth game. Cibulkova raced to a 40-0 lead and after some good play, she went on to take the game.
Cibulkova was playing well and she consolidated the break by holding her serve with ease. The Slovakian then extended her lead in the sixth game as she broke Schiavone once again. Schiavone battled her but it was not enough to prevent Cibulkova from putting herself a set and double break up.
Cibulkova had put herself into a position where she was able to serve for the set. The Slovakian did not let the pressure get to her as she comfortably held her serve, to take the game, set and match on the first time of asking. In just over an hour and fifteen minutes Cibulkova had won the match, to progress into the semi final.
Cibulkova will play Pauline Parmentier in the next round of the tournament in Katowice.