WTA: Strasbourg: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova wins tiebreak final against Dominika Cibulkova

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has won the WTA tournament in Strasbourg. The Russian won in three close sets against Dominika Cibulkova from Slovakia.

The audience in Strasbourg saw a final thriller à la bonne heure and both Dominika Cibulkova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova were in the best fighting mood.

Both players gave full throttle from the first ball and played powerful tennis. Pavlyuchenkova took the first advantage and took the lead with 3:2 and a break. However, the Russian soon had to realize that the Slovakian is a true fighter on the other side.

Cibulkova broke back and equalled against the Russian. The decision in the first set was sought in the tiebreak, which Cibulkova narrowly won 7:5.

However, the tension in the Strasbourg final was not broken and the two final opponents continued to play aggressive and great tennis.

Again, it was the Russian who took the lead with a break and again Cibulkova struck back. Another break on each side made the tension rise again and again a tiebreak had to bring the decision.

This time Pavlyuchenkova was ahead and equalled 7:3 in the sets.

The better start in the decisive set came from Cibulkova, who was able to take the service to the 3:1 lead from her opponent. As in the first two sets, the leading player was unable to take advantage and Cibulkova promptly re-breaked.

The third round was also decided in the tie-break. With a tight 8:6 in the tiebreak, Pavlyuchenkova was allowed to reach for the sky and call herself the tournament winner in Strasbourg.