SINGAPORE: Dominka Cibulkova put on a stunning show of unflappable tennis to secure the biggest victory of her career when the Slovakian stormed to a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over world number one Angelique Kerber to claim the WTA Finals title on Sunday.

Cibulkova, making her debut in the elite eight-woman event, was at her effervescent best against her overwhelmed opponent, never giving the top seed an inch as she sealed an unlikely victory with a monumental hold of serve in a tense finale.

Kerber is known for her resilience and fought to the bitter end of an absorbing contest but the seventh-seeded Cibulkova gritted her teeth and claimed victory with a lucky net cord on her fourth championship point.

Kerber went into the final as overwhelming favourite after taking this year’s Australian Open and US Open titles.

But the 28-year-old was powerless to stop the diminutive Slovakian, who has made an inspired return to the game’s elite and was named the WTA’s Comeback Player of the Year.

Cibulkova was facing an early exit when she lost her first two round-robin matches in Singapore. But she won her last three matches to receive the Billie Jean King trophy and a cheque for $2.05 million, the biggest payday of her life.

“Coming here for the first time and winning the biggest tournament of my life, I just have no words,” said Cibulkova. “Today you can see I got really lucky in the end. When the ball just went in on the match point, it was the happiest moment of my life.”

Kerber had won their last five meetings, but now their head-to-head stands at 5-5.

“I gave everything I had on the court and it’s an honour to play on the big stage in front of my incredible fans,” Kerber said. “I’ve had an incredible year and I’m looking forward to the next one.”

In the doubles finals Russian Olympic champions Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina beat US Open winners Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova 7-5 (7-5) 6-3.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2016