Serena Shrugs Off Cibulkova for Final Four Spot Down Under
Serena Williams had to fight back from a set down to win each of her last two matches entering Wednesday’s quarterfinal versus 12th seeded Dominika Cibulkova. With a short turnaround looming in the semifinals and coming off two three-set matches, Serena wasted no time, powering past Cibulkova 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour to advance.
“I feel I played well,” said Serena, who battled through a sore throat and cough. “I felt I had to. I feel like when you’re going up against a player like that who is confident on the court—she just had a few good matches—I knew that I needed to really play well or go home.”
The world number one jumped on the Slovak early, firing aces and using her powerful serve to keep Cibulkova back on her heels. Cibulkova committed eight unforced errors in the opening frame and was broken twice as Serena rolled in the 28-minute set.
Cibulkova played a bit more inspired tennis in the second but was just never able to do anything on Serena’s serve. The Slovak had two break point opportunities but couldn’t take advantage of either. Serena sprayed in two more break points and allowed her to wrap up the second set 6-2 as well.
Serena was nearly flawless, ripping 31 winners to just 18 unforced errors. She now moves into the final four and will take on fellow American Madison Keys, who ousted her older sister, Venus, in the earlier match.
“I told her I was really happy that she did well,” said Serena of Keys. “She’s in the semis. It’s good to see another American, another African-American, in the semifinals playing so well. Regardless, there’s going to be an American in the finals, so that is great.
It’s also great for me and Venus because we know that finally there’s other Americans that are constantly playing well and playing better, showing that they want to be the world’s greatest.”
Serena and Keys have never played one another but Keys will try to draw from the experience of her coach Lindsey Davenport, who beat Serena 13 times during her playing career.
