Filed under: U.S. Open, WTANEW YORK -- Dominika Cibulkova, ranked No. 45 in the world, advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open with a surprise 7-5, 7-6(4) victory over 11th-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova.
"I know my game and I know myself, so I knew I could make it; I could beat everybody in this tournament," said Cibulkova. "I was just waiting for a moment, and I'm happy it's here.
Before rebounding to dominate the tiebreaker, the unseeded Cibulkova blew a 5-3 lead with two match points in the second set. The experienced Kuznetsova fought back and Cibulkova showed a case of nerves. However, in the tiebreaker, Kuznetsova double-faulted to trail 5-1 and could never mount a comeback.
In the quarterfinals, Cibulkova will face the winner of the late Monday afternoon fourth-round match between top seed Caroline Wozniacki and No. 14 seed Maria Sharapova. Cibulkova showed plenty of grit in Monday's match, receiving treatment for a hip injury during the first set. Her previous best result at the U.S. Open was an appearance in the third round in 2008.
Kuznetsova won the U.S. Open in 2004 and was runner-up in 2007. Those were the only previous times in her career that she advanced to the quarterfinals. She had lost one set in the tournament's first three rounds -- in the first round to 39-year-old Kimiko Date Krumm.
tweetcount_src = 'RT @FanHouse:'; tweetcount_via = false; tweetcount_size = 'small'; tweetcount_background = 'FFFFFF'; tweetcount_border = 'CCCCCC'; tweetcount_api_key = '1cf4e3b7f7f20406a9dd9d1b1edc0e41b4fc20d1b21cb19a6f169387c696d333'; "I didn't feel good today," said Kuznetsova. "I was very flat. It was very hard for me to play one night second night match, and then in one day to play at 11:00. I mean, I still have to play and win today, doesn't matter what, because I feel that my level is so much better. But I was just fighting with myself and was not doing all the time the things I was supposed to do. Still, it's not an excuse. I still have to win."
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