Just got back from work to see it from 5-5 in the third, which was probably for the best as I saw Hev win without having to watch any of the bits where she almost won but didn't Impossible to judge the match from those games though as tiredness and tension come into play more than anything else by that point.
Heather has an amazing ability to recover from matches where she was in control but the opponent has come back - a lot of players would have fallen apart (though maybe she puts herself in that situation a bit too often).
I think the problem in the 2nd set was that having got a set and 4-0 up Heather dropped back into her comfortable game and against a top player that wasn't good enough. Eventually Heather returned to her more attacking game and hauled her way back from a break down in the 1st game of the 3rd.
That's really impressive. To sail through and never doubt yourself and win is great. To come through a match like that may, as PaulM says, be even better. That's got to be one of her best wins, rankings-wise, no? Edit: Just saw via Steven's post that it is indeed.
-- Edited by Spectator on Wednesday 6th of August 2014 07:34:58 PM
For what its worth my take on 2nd set reversal was that initially Cibulkova upped her level, she is a great fighter as well, then slowly but surely Hev tightened up, and that was that.
Cibulkova probably should have won the 3rd set TB but I believe she tightened up leaving the door open for Hev to just about win.
These types of matches are so important to Hev's development, in that she has to stay aggressive in particular with her forehand or the top players will take her out time after time.
Big chances next as Azarenka could withdraw with a knee injury she sustained last night, didn't practice this morning, even if she does take to the court Hev has a great chance against an out of form/injured former top player. H2H needs addressing.
Well done Hev, I was watching the scores on the Beeb, then I had to go out, so was relieved when I got back and she'd won. Cracking win, so please or her.
Heather is the first British woman to make R3 at the 'Canadian Open' for 23 years, since Sara Gomer lost to the eventual champion, 3rd seed Jennifer Capriati, in R3 in 1991.
Gomer was, of course, also the last British woman to win a WTA tour singles title before Hev - in that case she preceded Hev by 24 years, 1988 cf. 2012.
A Hev fan on Twitter prompted me to look this up
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!