Dominika Cibulkova finishes year in style with upset WTA Finals title win over Angelique Kerber

The seventh-seeded Cibulkova, making her debut at the WTA Finals, picked the right match to win against Kerber. The two met in the first match of the round-robin stage last weekend with Kerber prevailing 7-6 (5) 2-6 6-3.

“Coming here for the first time and winning the biggest title of my life, I have no words,” Cibulkova said.

“Today you can see I got really lucky in the end.”

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

The only time Cibulkova looked nervous in the 76-minute match was when she was serving for it at 6-3 5-4. She missed on three match points and saved two break points before a forehand clipped the top of the net and just dribbled over to give her the victory.

“Only in the first two match points I was a little bit nervous, I realised what the situation is,” Cibulkova said.

“But after that I only had one goal and I knew I could do it.”

From the minute Cibulkova hit the first ball of the match she was on fire, taking Kerber out of her game, belting winners at will, and in complete command of the outing.

Cibulkova, who will end the year ranked No. 5, is the second consecutive player to win the WTA Finals after going 1-2 in the round-robin stage of the competition.

Last year, Agnieszka Radwanska won the trophy after posting the same record in the round-robin.

Originally published as Cibulkova upsets Kerber to win WTA Finals title