Tennis

Bartoli, Cibulkova in Carlsbad final

Share This Story

Updated Jul 22, 2012 3:02 AM ET
     
 

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP)

Top-seeded Marion Bartoli rebounded from a poor first set for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over qualifier Chan Yung-Jan that sent her to the finals of the Mercury Insurance Open on Saturday night.

Bartoli had 20 unforced errors and seven double-faults in the first set before she straightened out her game to win her third consecutive three-set match this week.

"My ankle was really bothering me at the beginning, and the doctor gave me some anti-inflammatories before the match started," Bartoli said. "It took 45 minutes before the anti-inflammatories started to kick in, and I was feeling a lot better in the second and the third set."

The Frenchwoman will face second-seeded Dominika Cibulkova, a 7-6 (8), 6-1 winner over Russia's Nadia Petrova in the other semifinal.

Bartoli had to overcome her inconsistent serve, which produced 14 double-faults after having 29 in her first two matches.

The combination of Chan's solid ground strokes and Bartoli's sporadic play made the first set a rout for the Taiwanese woman. But Bartoli began to play noticeably better in the second set and Chan became tentative.

Bartoli went up a break at 2-1 in the third set and never relinquished the lead. Bartoli, who has seven career titles, will be looking for her first since October.

"I think I started to hit the ball harder, but also I gave myself a bit more room in the return of (the) serve," Bartoli said. "I think when I was able to break her in the beginning of the second set, she started to feel not that confident."

General tennis court

NET PLAY

FOXSports.com serves up the latest from the tennis world:

After Cibulkova came back in the tiebreaker to pull out the first set, she dominated the second set over a visibly tired Petrova to reach her second final of the season.

"The key why I won the match was after she was up 4-0 (in the tiebreak), I just said to myself, `I don't want to give it up. I just want to make it as tough as I can for her,'" Cibulkova said.

The fourth-seeded Petrova called for the trainer for heat illness at the end of the tiebreaker.

"I was trying to not pay attention to her," Cibulkova said. "I saw in the last game of the match that she was running, so it's good that I didn't pay attention to her."

Cibulkova, looking for her first title of the season, broke Petrova's serve to start the second set and ran out to a 4-0 lead for her third consecutive straight-set victory. Petrova won only 12 points in the second set.

Petrova served for the first set at 6-5, but Cibulkova broke back on a backhand passing shot. After Cibulkova rallied in the tiebreaker to pull out the first set, she dominated the second set over a visibly tired Petrova to reach her second final of the season.

"The key why I won the match was after she was up 4-0 (in the tiebreak), I just said to myself, `I don't want to give it up. I just want to make it as tough as I can for her,'" Cibulkova said.

Related Stories

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

powered by


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

Tennis Videos

Remarkable Moments: Olympics Day 9 Posted: Aug 05, 2012
Bryan Clay talks about Day 9's remarkable moments with Laura Okmin.

London Now: Redemption for Murray Posted: Aug 05, 2012
Andy Murray wins gold over Roger Federer at Wimbledon and more.

London Now: Murray's golden opportunity Posted: Aug 05, 2012
Andy Murray has two shots at Olympic gold and more.

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Mitchell & Ness Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird Green Authentic Throwback Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/118804/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_118000/FF_118804_xl.jpg&w=100 249.95 Mitchell & Ness Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird Green Authentic Throwback Jersey
    adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/172442/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_172000/FF_172442_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/173566/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173566_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Chicago Bulls Red Primary Logo T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Chicago_Bulls/browse/featuredproduct/173568/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173568_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Chicago Bulls Red Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird White Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/177922/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177922_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird White Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball..
    adidas Atlanta Hawks #21 Dominique Wilkins Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Atlanta_Hawks/browse/featuredproduct/177923/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177923_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Atlanta Hawks #21 Dominique Wilkins Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basket..
    adidas Los Angeles Lakers #32 Magic Johnson Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey - Gold http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/177924/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177924_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Los Angeles Lakers #32 Magic Johnson Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketbal..
    adidas New York Knicks #19 Willis Reed Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Knicks/browse/featuredproduct/178326/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178326_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas New York Knicks #19 Willis Reed Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Bas..
    adidas Philadelphia 76ers #6 Julius Erving Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Philadelphia_76ers/browse/featuredproduct/178582/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178582_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Philadelphia 76ers #6 Julius Erving Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman..
    adidas Houston Rockets #34 Hakeem Olajuwon Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Houston_Rockets/browse/featuredproduct/178773/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178773_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Houston Rockets #34 Hakeem Olajuwon Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basket..
Microsoft© 2013 Microsoft