Fourth consecutive three-setter and fourth straight victory for Dominika Cibulkova! After ousting top seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the first round of the Mutua Madrid Open 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3, in her next three matches the Slovak always gave away the first set, against Caroline Garcia in the second round even without winning a single game.
In today's quarterfinals, Cibulkova's opponent Sorana Cirstea held on to the early break she earned and comfortably won the first set 6-4. The second set went with serve until the eighth game, when a bit of luck helped Cibulkova get the upper hand, while in the third set, after an initial exchange of breaks the momentum was absolutely on Cibulkova's side, even though Cirstea did enjoy a late mini revival when she broke Cibulkova to love to approach her from 2-5 down to 3-5.