Agnieszka Radwanska capped perfect two weeks with a 6-0 6-0 thrashing of Dominika Cibulkova in the final of the Apia International Sydney. The Slovakian, always hot or cold, finished the wonderful week that featured victories over Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and seeds No.2 and No.3 Angelique Kerber and Sara Errani with an embarrassing double-bagel loss to the in-form top seed. The last time we had a 6-0 6-0 score in a WTA final was more than six years ago, at the 2006 Quebec City, when Marion Bartoli defeated Olga Puchkova.
The Sydney final started with Radwanska’s double fault and ended with Cibulkova’s double fault. Cibulkova couldn’t keep a ball in court and recorded a 15-36 winners-unforced errors differential to Radwanska’s 7-8.
Radwanska has now taken 18 straight sets, which include titles in Auckland and Sydney, and extended her record to 4-0 in WTA finals where she was the top seed. Moreover, Radwanska has now won eight of her last nine finals at non-majors. A big thank you to Chris Skelton and his amazing Twitter account for these unique stats!
En route to her 12th career title, Radwanska defeated Kimiko Date-Krumm in the second round, Roberta Vinci in the quarterfinals, fourth seed Li Na in the semis and rounded off the tournament by demolishing Cibulkova. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)
Radwanska force Cibulkova to play error free. Sadly she wouldn’t pull it off but she did had few points where she show and proof she top 20 player. If she can build on that she dangers player.
congrats to Rad on victory and congrats to Cib and being engaged. In 06 the last time we had a double bagel in a final Puchkova was capping of a wonderful post US Open 06 that saw her in 2 finals and quarters or better of every event she was in. That was the time I got into tennis and Olga has been a favorite ever since than especially since the Sunfeast Open in Kolkota
This was quite unbelievable defeat even for Dominika’s error-prone standards.
Omair’s “emotional impact that this defeat will have” evoked in my mind (yet another) association from way-back-when. It’s a piece of song-lyrics, which goes as follows:
“Riding on your bicycle
your nose feels like an icicle…”
Poetry in motion, I’d say – just like tennis, isn’t it.
I have serious doubts now on Cibulkova’s chances at Aussie Open, the emotional impact that this defeat will have, will be devastating. I hope she does not let it get to her.