Throwback Video: Cibulkova triumphs at 2016 WTA Finals in Singapore

Retiring in 2019, Cibulkova enjoyed 16 years on the WTA Tour. Only 160cm tall Slovakian enjoyed a pretty successful career. She reached the quarterfinals at US Open and Wimbledon and the semifinal at Roland Garros. In 2014, Dominika lost to Li Na in the final of the Australian Open, but her biggest success came 2 years later at the WTA Finals.

After ending as number 8 in the Race to Singapore, Cibulkova qualified for the WTA Finals. In the group stage, Cibulkova faced Kerber, Keys and Halep. It was not the best start for the Slovakian when she lost the first 2 matches. First, Kerber defeated Cibulkova in 3 sets and then Keys outplayed her in straight sets.

Before the final matches of the group, Cibulkova needed to outplay Halep in 2 sets. She also needed the same victory from Kerber against Keys to advance from the group. What seemed as an impossible task became reality and she qualified for the play-off stage.

In the semifinals, Cibulkova faced Svetlana Kuznetsova. Dominika was close to dropping out of the tournament once again. Kuznetsova won the first set 6-1 and led 4-3 in the second. However, 'Domi' triumphed in the tie-break of the second set and turned the 3rd set from being 2-4 down to 6-4 victory.

In the final, she faced Angelique Kerber to who she lost in the group stage. The German defeated Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets in the semifinals and the world number 1 was in a great form as she lost only 1 set throughout the tournament. However, the final day was a day of Dominika Cibulkova. She triumphed after 78 minutes 6-3, 6-4 to capture the biggest achievement of her career. After the tournament, Dominika climbed to no.5 in the WTA Ranking, and in March 2017, she reached her career-high 4th place. Now, the Slovakian is retired and awaits her first child.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXAceK6Mpr0[/embed]