This article is part of On the Baseline’s 2009 Players to Watch Series. Please join us for a special look at several rising and resurgent stars on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.
Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova skyrocketed up the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in 2008. The outgoing nineteen-year old scored wins over some of the biggest names in tennis during the past season, including Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic, Elena Dementieva, and Venus Williams.
I recently caught up with Dominika to talk about her fantastic year of tennis and her plans for the upcoming season.
Although you have been a professional player for four years, some fans are still new to your game. How would you describe your style of play and personality to someone who has never seen you compete?
Describe my personality? I think I am a smiling, very positive, and energetic person—which you also can see in my game. I have a lot of friends on the Tour because I’m also a very friendly person!
You skyrocketed up the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings in 2008 and recently debuted in the Top 20. When you started the season on the Gold Coast in January, did you dream of being this successful?
Yes, actually my goal for this season was to get in the Top 30. This was like my dream and I had already reached that in the middle of the season, so I got a little bit satisfied. But then my coach and my agent knew that I can be much better. They found a good way to motivate me and they proved to me that I can be much better than that if I will believe in that!
You defeated several Top 10 players this year, including Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Elena Dementieva, and Venus Williams. What lessons were you able to take from these victories as you continue to improve your tennis game?
I learned that against these top players you have to be a perfectionist if you want to beat them! You can’t afford to make any mistakes against these players and take the only chance they give you in the match, so that’s why you have to be perfect in every point to beat them!
The 2008 tennis season was doubly special because of the Olympics. How meaningful was it to compete for Slovakia in Beijing? What was your favorite Olympic moment?
The Olympics was unbelievable! For me, it was one of my dreams to get there and I really enjoyed that event, even the Opening Ceremony and the Players Village—everything was just great! I got to meet all the great athletes and I have a lot of great memories from there!
You have certainly earned a vacation after competing in over twenty-five tournaments during 2008. How do you plan to spend the off-season?
Actually, this will be the first time I will go somewhere for nice holidays. I will go to Maldives for 10 days. I can’t wait for the holidays!
Do you have any specific goals set for 2009?
My goals for next year are to work on things I have to improve in my game tactics . . . and I really hope I will reach Top 10 one day!
For more information about Dominika, please visit her official website at www.dominikacibulkova.sk
Hey Aaress, great interview! She really came on strong at the end of the year, I felt. She could definitely crack the top 10, maybe grab Radwanska’s spot next year?
[...] far, we have profiled Jelena Jankovic, Sorana Cirstea, and Dominika Cibulkova, and in the next several days we will introduce you to more exciting players for [...]
Thanks, Van!
Radwanska’s position in the top 10 is none too stable, and who knows, we might see Cibulkova debut up there next season.
As we talked about in her interview, she has scored some big wins and if she can continue to improve, her ranking will certainly rise.