Cibulkova ousts Radwanska to reach Miami semis
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Key Biscayne, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova came from behind to upset third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and reach the semifinals at the $5.4 million Sony Open.
The 10th-seeded Cibulkova staved off three match points in the second set and overcame a 2-5 deficit in a tiebreak before outlasting the former Wimbledon runner-up Radwanska, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, on the hardcourts at Crandon Park.
With her big quarterfinal victory on Wednesday, the 24-year-old Cibulkova will enter the Top 10 in the WTA rankings for the first time in her career next week. She headed to Miami at No. 11 in the world.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"This win really means a lot to me," Cibulkova beamed in her on-court interview. "It's always tough to play Aga, but I knew I just had to stay aggressive. If you make some mistakes with Aga you still have to stay aggressive. That's the way I play, and it's the only way to beat her. I had to keep it going."
Radwanska, who was the runner-up in Indian Wells two weeks ago and the Miami champion in 2012, was also upset by Cibulkova in an Aussie Open semi back in January.
Cibulkova's final-four opponent on Thursday will be second-seeded Li Na or 11th-seeded former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki. Cibulkova lost to Li in January's Aussie Open finale.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Thursday's other semifinal will pit current world No. 1 Serena Williams against fourth-seeded former top-ranked Russian star Maria Sharapova. The American great topped Sharapova in last year's final to capture a sixth Miami title and hand the Russian her fifth loss in five finals at this lucrative tournament.
Williams is a dominant 15-2 lifetime against Sharapova, including 14 straight wins dating back to 2004. The American is 3-0 versus the Russian in Miami.
The 2014 Sony Open champ will collect $787,000.