Dominika Cibulkova secured her place in Saturday’s Australian Open final, where she will face Li Na, thanks to a convincing 6-1 6-2 win over Agnieszka Radwanska.
The 24-year-old needed just 70 minutes to see off the world No.5, as she picked up her fourth successive win over a higher-seeded opponent at Melbourne Park.
Radwanska started the contest as the firm favourite, having won five of their previous six encounters. But Cibulkova immediately made life difficult for the Pole, as she broke in the opening game. She broke on two more occasions as she saw out the first set with ease.
The second set started in similar fashion as she stormed into a 4-0 lead, but Radwanska did fight back to take the next two games.
She missed a number of crucial chances to force the match into a deciding set though and Radwanska was quick to blame her schedule in the tournament for her defeat, the 24-year-old insisting after the match that she felt like a “half-mummy”.
Speaking after the match, Cibulkova said:
“Aga is an unbelievable player and I expected a tough match. I just knew I had to go for my shots.
“I had so many thoughts in my head (during the match) but just focused on my game. I can’t believe I’m in a final.”
Cibulkova will now face Li in the final on Saturday, after she beat Canadian Eugenie Bouchard 6-2 6-4. It will be Chinese star’s third final in four years in Melbourne.
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