Dominika Cibulkova stuns Ivanovic

Number 7 seed, Serbia’s  Ana Ivanovic has been shown the exit door from the US Open, losing in the first round to 50th ranked player, Dominika Cibulkova from Slovakia.

The  27-year-old Serbian,  a former world No. 1 and the 2008 French Open champion lost the first set 3-6. She rallied to win the second set 6-3 and fell apart again in the third set, going down 3-6.

 #Cibulkova, 26,  had just  recovered from left Achilles tendon surgery in March and surely wanted to make a point that she belonged to the elite of the game.

Perhaps that’s why she  played like she had something to prove in her 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 upset.

The match started well enough for Ivanovic, who capitalized on loose errors to break Cibulkova at love in the opening game. However, Cibulkova regrouped with a barrage of strong returns to pull even at 2-2. And so it went, with the players trading breaks along with their two-fisted backhands until Cibulkova served for the match at 5-3. After her unforced error handed the set to Cibulkova, #Ivanovic turned to her player’s box and shrieked in frustration.

Ivanovic held to open the second set before Cibulkova raced to a 3-1 lead and held three break points. Whereas Cibulkova had gained the advantage by matching Ivanovic’s power and rushing her into errors, however, her aggression faded while Ivanovic’s attacking game – particularly on Cibulkova’s second serves – intensified.

Cibulkova didn’t win another game in the set, but she ran away with the third. Her only hiccup occurred at 4-2 before she ultimately denied Ivanovic two break chances. She served a double-fault on her first match point, but claimed her second when Ivanovic’s slice backhand floated long.

In the second round, Cibulkova faces American qualifier Jessica Pegula who routed Belgian Alison Van Uytanuck, 7-5, 6-3.

Fourth seeded Japanese  star, Kei  Nishikori has also been sent packing from the tournament. He was beaten in five sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6 by unseeded French player, Benoit Paire. #Nishikori was a finalist at the last edition.