MATCH NOTES: CONNECTICUT OPEN PRESENTED BY UNITED TECHNOLOGIES NEW HAVEN, CT, USA AUGUST 20-26, 2017 USD $776,000 PREMIER WTA Website: www.wtatennis.com @WTA facebook.com/wta Tournament Website: www.ctopen.org @ConnecticutOpen facebook.com/connecticutopen WTA Communications: Jeff Watson (jwatson@wtatennis.com) CONNECTICUT OPEN FINAL DARIA GAVRILOVA (AUS #26) vs. [2] DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA (SVK #11) Cibulkova leads 1-0 A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS PLAYER RANK AGE NAT YTD PRIZE $^ NH (MD) W/L* YTD W/L* YTD TITLES CAREER PRIZE $^ CAREER W/L* [2] Dominika Cibulkova 11 28 SVK 682,188 9-7 22-17 0 11,557,112 414-266 8 Daria Gavrilova 26 23 AUS 574,016 4-1 26-18 0 2,259,374 213-153 0 *Includes current tournament / ^Does not include current tournament CAREER TITLES FINAL QUICK HITS This year s Connecticut Open final pits No.2 seed Dominika Cibulkova against Australian No.1 Daria Gavrilova Prior to this year, neither player had been beyond the last eight in New Haven. Cibulkova was a quarterfinalist on two occasions (2012, 2015), while Gavrilova fell at the first hurdle on her only previous visit (2015) Cibulkova is the second Slovak to reach the final at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center, following Magdalena Rybarikova s runner-up finish to Petra Kvitova in 2014. Gavrilova is the first Australian, going one better than two-time semifinalist Samantha Stosur (2006, 2014) Cibulkova is bidding for her ninth career title and appearing in her first final since winning last year s WTA Finals in Singapore Gavrilova, meanwhile, is yet to win a singles title, having finished runner-up in her only finals to date, at Strasbourg this spring and last year in Moscow Both players came close to losing their opening matches this week. Gavrilova broke Kristyna Pliskova when trailing 5-4 in the final set on Monday, while Cibulkova trailed 4-2 in the decider against Cornet a few days later Gavrilova has served 15 aces in her four matches en route to the final. Cibulkova has delivered just the one from her three outings Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/wta Facebook: www.facebook.com/wta YouTube: www.youtube.com/wta 1
MATCH NOTES NEW HAVEN - USA, CT Aug 20 - Aug 26, 2017 $776,000 PREMIER DARIA GAVRILOVA (AUS #26) vs. [2] DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA (SVK #11) Head to Head: DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA leads 1-0 2016 WIMBLEDON GRASS O R2 DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 6-3 6-2 77 mins DARIA GAVRILOVA 26 29 05-03-1994 (23) $574,016 $2,259,374 0 / 0 0 / 1 4-1 24-18 / 75-68 10-9 / 28-23 6-7 / 19-18 12-9 / 45-47 WTA RANKING ROAD TO SINGAPORE LEADERBOARD DATE OF BIRTH (AGE) YTD PRIZE MONEY CAREER PRIZE MONEY SINGLES TITLES (YTD / CAREER) DOUBLES TITLES (YTD / CAREER) NEW HAVEN W-L (MD) * YTD / CAREER W-L (MD) * YTD / CAREER 3-SET W-L (MD) * YTD / CAREER TIE-BREAK W-L (MD) * YTD / CAREER HARD W-L (MD) * DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 11 26 06-05-1989 (28) $682,188 $11,557,112 0 / 8 1 / 1 8-7 22-17 / 344-240 8-9 / 111-93 5-3 / 80-58 18-10 / 237-168 1-2 / 7-10 YTD / CAREER Left Hander W-L (MD) * 1-6 / 26-27 0-1 / 3-9 YTD / CAREER TOP 5 W-L (MD & Q) * 0-1 / 18-35 2-4 / 9-18 YTD / CAREER TOP 10 W-L (MD & Q) * 0-2 / 34-56 5-6 / 19-30 YTD / CAREER TOP 20 W-L (MD & Q) * 2-2 / 63-95 * Updated entering 2017 New Haven F ROAD TO THE FINAL DARIA GAVRILOVA (AUS #26) SF: d. [1] AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (POL #10) 6-4,6-4 (1h33) QF: d. KIRSTEN FLIPKENS (BEL #76) 6-2,6-4 (1h45) R16: d. TIMEA BABOS (HUN #66) 7-5,7-6(6) (2h12) R32: d. KRISTYNA PLISKOVA (CZE #40) 7-5,4-6,7-5 (2h12) vs. [2] DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA (SVK #11) SF: d. ELISE MERTENS (BEL #46) 6-1,6-3 (1h09) QF: d. [6] ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA (RUS #20) 7-5,6-4 (2h03) R16: d. ALIZÉ CORNET (FRA #47) 2-6,6-2,6-4 (2h02) R32: BYE Total games: 97 Won/lost: 56-41 Sets won/lost: 8-1 Total time on court: 7h42 Average time on court: 1h56 Average rank of opponent: 48 Total games: 64 Won/lost: 39-25 Sets won/lost: 6-1 Total time on court: 5h14 Average time on court: 1h45 Average rank of opponent: 38 Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/wta Facebook: www.facebook.com/wta YouTube: www.youtube.com/wta Insights from
MATCH NOTES NEW HAVEN - USA, CT Aug 20 - Aug 26, 2017 $776,000 PREMIER DARIA GAVRILOVA 2015 R1 L - LUCIE SAFAROVA (CZE #6) 6-3 6-4 NEW HAVEN Tournament History DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 2015 QF L - LUCIE SAFAROVA (CZE #6) 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5 R16 W - KRISTINA MLADENOVIC (FRA #39) 2-6 7-6(1) 7-5 R1 W - TSVETANA PIRONKOVA (BUL #42) 7-6(6) 6-7(5) 6-3 2014 R1 L - ANDREA PETKOVIC (GER #19) 7-6(2) 6-3 2013 R1 L - KLARA KOUKALOVA (CZE #33) 3-6 6-3 6-3 2012 QF L - CAROLINE WOZNIACKI (DEN #8) 6-2 6-1 R16 W - ANDREA PETKOVIC (GER #43) 6-4 6-1 R1 W - ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES (ESP #30) 7-5 6-3 2010 R16 L - CAROLINE WOZNIACKI (DEN #2) 6-4 6-1 R1 W - MELANIE OUDIN (USA #44) 6-2 5-7 6-4 QF* L - ANASTASIA RODIONOVA (AUS #64) 6-4 7-6(4) R16* W - JILL CRAYBAS (USA #109) 6-1 6-2 R1* W - ALICIA MOLIK (AUS #90) 7-5 6-3 2008 R1 L - CAROLINE WOZNIACKI (DEN #22) 7-6(7) 2007 R1 L - EMILIE LOIT (FRA #39) 6-0 7-5 QF* L - AGNES SZAVAY (HUN #41) 6-1 2-1 * Qualifying match GAVRILOVA: R16* W - ALEKSANDRA WOZNIAK (CAN #93) 6-0 6-3 R1* W - GRETA ARN (HUN #96) 3-6 6-2 7-6(2) New Haven Making second appearance at New Haven. Fell 1r in 2015 (l. Safarova) Defeated Kr.Pliskova in 1r on Monday in 3s the Czech served for the match at 5 4 in the final set. Has now played 19 three setters in 2017 (10 9 record) for a joint fourth most on tour this season only Wozniacki (21), Muguruza (20) and Ostapenko (20) have played more Recovered from 5 2 down in opening set to defeat No.66 Babos in 2r in straight sets, and saw off qualifier Flipkens on Thursday in what was her fifth QF of 2017; also reached this stage or better at Rabat (QF, l. Errani), Rome (QF, l. Bertens), Strasbourg (R Up, l. Stosur) and Birmingham (QF, l. Safarova) In SF, upset No.10 A.Radwanska in straight sets; now owns a 9 18 lifetime record vs. Top 10 opponents, with other wins over No.8 Kuznetsova (2017 Rome), No.1 Kerber (2016 Hong Kong), No.5 Halep (2016 Rome), No.6 Kvitova (2016 Madrid), No.7 Kvitova (2016 Australian Open), No.7 Safarova (2015 Toronto), No.7 Ivanovic (2015 Rome) and No.2 Sharapova (2015 Miami) Faces Cibulkova today in third career final. Still waiting for first title having fallen in the championship matches at Strasbourg this spring (l. compatriot Stosur) and at 2016 Moscow (l. Kuznetsova) Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/wta Facebook: www.facebook.com/wta YouTube: www.youtube.com/wta Insights from
Owns 5 6 record vs. Top 20 opponents in 2017, with wins prior to this week over No.13 Mladenovic (Cincinnati), No.13 Keys and No.8 Kuznetsova (both at Rome) and No.15 Bacsinszky (Australian Open) Is the first Australian finalist at New Haven; Stosur previously fell in SFs in 2014 (l. Kvitova) and 2006 (l. Davenport) semifinals Season Enters 2017 New Haven following a 2r showing at Cincinnati (l. Giorgi in 3s) Began US Open Series by reaching 2r at Toronto. Defeated qualifier Arruabarrena in 1r to end three match winless streak, losing to Strycova in 2r after holding a 6 4 4 1 lead On grass, reached QF at Birmingham (l. Safarova after holding 3mp) and lost opening matches at Eastbourne (after 1r bye, l. qualifier Arruabarrena in 2r) and Wimbledon (l. qualifier Martic) Reached a career high singles ranking of No.21 on June 19, 2017); previous career high was No.24 on October 24, 2016 following run to Moscow final Reached second career singles final at 2017 Strasbourg (l. compatriot Stosur, a match that would have decided a new Aussie No.1 had she won the title). Overtook Stosur two weeks later after 1r loss at Roland Garros (l. Mertens), ending her compatriot s 452 week reign Made QF run at Rome (l. Bertens); having missed main draw sign up, was forced to play two rounds of qualifying to enter the main draw Other clay court swing results include opening match loss at Madrid (l. Bellis), QF appearance at Rabat (l. Errani) and a R16 showing at Charleston (l. doubles partner and eventual champion Kasatkina) Sunshine Double results include 1r exit at Miami (after 1r bye, l. Safarova) and 3r at Indian Wells (l. Svitolina) Went 0 2 in singles while representing Australia in Fed Cup loss to Ukraine (l. Tsurenko, Svitolina). Also in February made 2r at St. Petersburg (l. Kuznetsova) In January, posted strong R16 run at the Australian Open, equaling her best result at Melbourne, having reached this stage in 2016 became first Australian to reach R16 at Australian Open since Dellacqua in 2014. Was seeded at a Slam for the first time at Melbourne (at No.22) Made a 2r exit at Sydney (l. eventual champion Konta) Opened up 2017 season at Hopman Cup exhibition in Perth, partnering Nick Kyrgios Grand Slam History 2017 Wimbledon marked 12th Grand Slam main draw appearance Has reached R16 at the Australian Open in both 2016 and 2017 when she was seeded at a Slam for the first time (at No.22) Other Grand Slam highlights include 2r showings at 2015 Roland Garros and 2016 Wimbledon. Has never been beyond 1r at US Open (2015 16)
Career Enjoyed strong run of form to close 2016 season, reaching QF at Beijing (l. Svitolina), SF at Hong Kong (l. Mladenovic) and first WTA singles final at Moscow (l. Kuznetsova) In Hong Kong QF, scored first victory over reigning World No.1 with defeat of Kerber Other notable 2016 result was QF run at 2016 Madrid (l. qualifier Chirico) Represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Fell in 1r of singles (l. S.Williams) and doubles (w/stosur, l. eventual silver medalists Bacsinszky/Hingis) In April 2016, represented Australia for first time in Fed Cup competition USA d. AUS 4 0; Gavrilova went 0 1 in singles (l. Keys) and 0 1 in doubles (w/ar.rodionova l. Mattek Sands/Vandeweghe) Catapulted from No.233 at end of 2014 season to No.36 at end of 2015 named WTA s Most Impressive Newcomer for 2015 (media vote) Season highlights in 2015 included reaching first WTA semifinal at Rome (l. eventual champion Sharapova) and quarterfinals at Eastbourne and Hong Kong Won first WTA doubles title at 2015 Istanbul w/svitolina, their debut tournament together (d. Büyükakçay/Jankovic in F) Made Top 100 debut in March 2015, and Top 50 debut in May 2015 Secured permanent residence in Australia in 2013 and has represented the country in Grand Slam play since 2014 US Open. Australian passport came through in December 2015 and now represents Australia at WTA events as well Watched 2014 Australian Open on crutches; she tore ACL in right knee at WTA 125k Series event in Taipei in November 2013; following surgery, did not play a tournament until July 2014, at ITF level Made WTA main draw debut at 2012 s Hertogenbosch, scoring first career Top 40 win over No.35 Wickmayer in 1r before losing to Flipkens in 2r Played first WTA qualifying event at 2009 Moscow Played first professional events of career on ITF Circuit in Russia in 2008 On ITF Circuit, winner of four singles titles, including two 50k events in Tasmania after the 2015 Australian Open (Burnie and Launceston); also owns two ITF doubles titles 2010 US Open junior singles champion and Youth Olympics champion in SIngapore Other Information Born in Moscow, Russia but switched nationality (and representation) from Russia to Australia in December 2015 Father's name is Alexey; mother's name is Natalia; younger brother is Stepan. Introduced to tennis at age 6 by parents Coached by Nicole Pratt and Biljana Veselinovic
CIBULKOVA: New Haven Making eighth appearance at New Haven. Had previously never been beyond QF, falling at this stage in 2012 (l. Wozniacki) and 2015 (l. Safarova) After 1r bye, recovered from 4 2 down in the final set to defeat Cornet to reach her first QF on tour since Doha this February Followed this with straight set victories over Pavlyuchenkova in QF her second Top 20 win of 2017 and qualifier Mertens in SF Win over Mertens was her 22nd of the season; by contrast her win tally at this stage of 2016 stood at 38 Has advanced to her first final since winning 2016 WTA Finals last October. Owns 8 10 career record in singles finals Faces Gavrilova for second time, having defeated the Australian en route to last year s Wimbledon QFs Leads Gavrilova in return games won (50% to 34.7%), break points converted (60% to 39.5%) and return points won (49.3% to 42.1%) Season Coming off R16 showing at Cincinnati. Defeated No.22 Konjuh in 1r her best win since defeating No.21 Stosur at Doha in February and Cornet in 2r before falling to No.7 Konta in straight sets Konta match was only her second of 2017 against a Top 10 player (also lost to No.3 Ka.Pliskova at Doha); career record against Top 10 now stands at 34 56 Made 2r exit in first outing of US Open Series at Toronto (d. Tsurenko, l. Safarova) Grass court season ended in 3r exit at Wimbledon (l. Konjuh) Went 0 3 on grass in lead up to Wimbledon, falling 1r at s Hertogenbosch (l. Lottner, ranked No.161) and Birmingham (l. Safarova, having held two match points) and dropping 2r opener at Eastbourne (l. Watson, ranked No.126) Won first WTA doubles title of career at s Hertogenbosch (w/flipkens) Clay season ended with 2r exit at Roland Garros (l. Jabeur, ranked No.114). Also fell in 2r at Madrid (l. Dodin) and Rome (after 1r bye, l. Makarova) Posted new career high ranking week of April 24, 2017 at No.4 Middle East swing results included 2r defeat in Dubai (after 1r bye, l. Makarova) and SF run at Doha (l. to Ka.Pliskova) the previous week; win over Stosur in Doha QF was 400th career match win (all levels) In February, made SF at St. Petersburg (l. Putintseva). Defeated No.16 Vesnina in R16 her best win by ranking in 2017 Reached 3r at Australian Open (as No.6 seed, l. Makarova in 3s) Began 2017 season at Brisbane, reaching QF (l. eventual runner up Cornet); made 2r exit at Sydney (l. Bouchard)
Grand Slam History 2017 Wimbledon marked 39th main draw appearance at a Grand Slam Best result across the majors came with runner up finish at 2014 Australian Open (l. Li). Defeated four seeds en route to final at Melbourne Park, including No.3 Sharapova and No.5 A.Radwanska to become first player representing Slovakia (male or female) to reach a Grand Slam singles final At Roland Garros, advanced to SF in 2009 (l. eventual R Up Safina) and QF in 2012 (l. Stosur), while at US Open, reached QF in 2010 (l. Wozniacki) and at Wimbledon made QF in 2016 (l. Vesnina) Career Posted first Top 10 season of career in 2016, finishing at No.5 Won 2016 WTA Comeback Player of the Year award ended 2015 ranked No.38 having been sidelined for four months with a left Achilles problem, with ranking dipping as low as No.66 in February 2016 Capped 2016 by winning biggest title of career to date at WTA Finals in Singapore went 1 2 in group stage before defeating No.9 Kuznetsova in SF and World No.1 Kerber in final At No.7, became lowest seeded player to triumph at WTA Finals since No.7 seed V.Williams in 2008; first player to win WTA Finals on debut since Kvitova in 2011 Won career high 53 matches in 2016 (previous best was 42 matches in 2011) Won a WTA leading four singles titles in 2016 qualified for Singapore by virtue of lifting trophy at Linz (d. Golubic in F) after earlier wins at Katowice (d. Giorgi in F) and Eastbourne (d. Ka.Pliskova in F). In 2016 also reached finals at Acapulco (l. Stephens), Madrid (l. Halep) and Wuhan (l. Kvitova) Earlier titles came at 2011 Moscow, 2012 Carlsbad, 2013 Stanford, 2014 Acapulco; overall is 8 10 in singles finals Other notable results in 2016 season included SF runs at Hobart (l. eventual R Up Bouchard) and Stanford (l. Konta) Withdrew from Rio Olympics in singles and doubles (w/left calf injury) Owns 34 victories over Top 10 opponents (eight coming in 2016) including three over reigning World No.1s: Wozniacki at 2011 Wimbledon, Azarenka at 2012 Roland Garros and Kerber at 2016 WTA Finals Made Top 10 debut at No.10 on March 31, 2014 (after Miami) Broke into Top 20 on August 4, 2008 Made WTA qualifying debut at 2005 Rabat and main draw debut at 2006 Istanbul Other Information In February 2014 launched her own sportswear and accessories line, Domi, which incorporates her on court Slovak catch cry Pome! ; proceeds go to her foundation which assists athletes and other notables in her native Slovakia who have fallen on tough times Married husband Michal Miso Navara in Bratislava in July 2016, after Wimbledon Coached by Matej Liptak