Cibulkova wins Carlsbad

Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia holds the trophy after defeating Marion Bartoli of France in the final match of the Mercury Insurance Open Tennis Tournament in Carlsbad Sunday. — AP

CARLSBAD, California – Dominika Cibulkova beat top-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-1, 7-5 Sunday to win the WTA Carlsbad crown, warming up for the London Olympics with her second career title.

The second seed from Slovakia needed 95 minutes to overcome her fatigued French opponent, whose sixth double fault of the contest gave Cibulkova three match points.

Cibulkova needed only one, falling on her back in joy after converting it.
“Today I played well all through the match,” said Cibulkova, who added the title to the trophy she won in Moscow last year. “In the past finals I was nervous. This was the first one where I just went for it – everything went my way.

“I’ve changed my coach recently, and I’m more relaxed on the court.

“It’s all working out really well for me,” added the 23-year-old, who will represent Slovakia at the London Games in both singles and doubles.

Bartoli ran out of steam after a long week on court that included a series of three-set matches as she struggled with a sore hip.

By the time they reached the final, world No. 10 Bartoli had spent a total of four more hours on court than Cibulkova.

Cibulkova was playing in her second final of the season, after losing in the title match in Barcelona. — AFP