"Losing that 2014 Australian Open final helped me win the 2016 championship in Singapore" - Dominika Cibulkova shares lessons learned enroute to WTA Finals triumph

Former world number four Dominika Cibulkova had a decorated career, briefly at the top of tennis. She spoke about her past triumphs on Match Point Canada, where she openly discussed the lessons she learned from her 2014 Australian Open defeat and how she implemented that into her game to win the 2016 WTA Finals.

The pinnacle of her career came in 2016 when she triumphed at the WTA Finals in Singapore. She would prove to be an unlikely winner in a field of immense talent. "When I arrived, even though I was ranked No. 8, I felt like an outsider. It was my first time there, and everything felt different," she reminisced.

"In my first match against Angelique Kerber, who was No. 1 in the world, I was so stressed that I started cramping in the second set. I come from a small country, and sometimes we have a mindset of just not wanting to fail, rather than believing we can win. That’s something I now teach at my academy—how important it is to believe in yourself."

The stress of the occasion was getting to her, and at one point she was in a position where she may not even win a match. "I lost to Kerber, then to Madison Keys, who I had never beaten. I felt terrible—like the worst player in the world. I thought, 'This is a disaster. I came here and didn’t win a match.'"

Nevertheless, there was a turning point. "I played Simona Halep and knew I had to win in straight sets to have a chance to advance," she explained. "That clarity helped me focus. I told myself, 'This is the only option.' I won 6–4, 7–6. The tiebreak was very stressful—she was one point away from winning the set, and there was even an issue with Hawk-Eye. But being on that edge made me play better. I had total focus, and I got through it."

She was full of confidence heading into her semi-final clash - a three-set victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova. She would have the daunting task of a rematch against Kerber in the final. This time, she was prepared. "I played Kerber again, and this time I knew exactly what to do. I told myself, 'I’m going to do it, and I’m going to win.' And that’s what happened. It really shows how much mindset matters."

Two years beforehand, she was on top of the world reaching the Australian Open final in a brilliant two weeks of tennis. The likes of Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep fell enroute to the final, but she would be unable to get over the line with Li Na winning 7-6, 6-0.

"A reason for this result was her mindset not being great, lacking belief and confidence ahead of the biggest match of her life," she stated. "You can have a great game and be in great form, but I don’t want to say you win the match the night before—but the mindset you have the night before really makes a big difference. You can definitely lose the match the night before if you’re not thinking positively. And that happened to me. Before the final at the Australian Open in 2014, when I played Li Na, I didn’t believe in myself at all—zero."

The occasion got to her, and she was doomed to defeat. "I was thinking, 'Wow, I’m in a Grand Slam final. I never even dreamed of this.' Even though I was playing great tennis, I just wasn’t there mentally. That’s why I lost the final—I didn’t believe I could win. I didn’t believe it the night before. Even Chris Evert came to me. She was really nice—we had trained at her academy before—and she tried to encourage me before the match. But I didn’t believe her. The words just weren’t getting into my head."

However, this loss gained her valuable experience and lessons that would be crucial in future tournaments. "That’s why I always say: losing that 2014 Australian Open final helped me win the 2016 championship in Singapore. What you learn from those experiences is incredible."

Life on tour is normally extremely busy for any tennis players, but Cibulkova has her hands full away from it. "As you said, I have two kids—a boy who is five and a girl, Nina, who is three—so they keep me really busy," she said. "They’re already in kindergarten now, so I have a bit more time for myself. I actually got pregnant just a month after I retired, so it was a very busy period.

Aside from that, there is a whole lot more for her to do. "I also run my tennis academy in Bratislava. I try to be there two or three times a week, watching the kids and helping them. On top of that, I have a fitness application where people can follow workout and meal plans. And I manage my Instagram, where I do some endorsements. So there’s a lot to handle."

Cibulkova opted to end her tennis career after reuccuring achilles problems took their toll. She drew that chapter of her life to a close in 2019, going into the unknown that is retirement. "I had no idea what I would do after retiring. I just knew it was time—I wasn’t happy on the court anymore, and I felt a new chapter should begin," she stated.

"We started a family, and then these business opportunities came naturally over time. After having my kids, I gained quite a bit of weight. So I shared on Instagram that I wanted to lose about 25 kilos and invited people to follow my journey. It really resonated with people. That’s when I thought, 'Okay, let’s do something with this,' and created the fitness app so people could work out with me and follow structured plans."

She retired when 30-years-old, a young age to hang you racket up. Any chance of a comeback were abolished with the Slovak not tempted for a return. "No, not really. I know how hard it was on my body. I’m one of the smaller players, so I had to be physically at 200% all the time. I couldn’t imagine training five or six hours a day again, plus physio and travel—especially with kids. I wanted to focus on family, and that’s what I’m doing."

Tennis has never completely left her daily routine, still following the sport from a distance. "Yes, sometimes—especially for big tournaments. I also work with a betting company in Slovakia, where I give match predictions. At Indian Wells, I actually went 12 out of 12 with my picks. So I still stay connected to the game."