Dominika Cibulkova beat Ekaterina Makarova 7-5 6-4 to reach the second round at the Nature Valley Invitational in Eastbourne on Monday. The 2016 WTA Finals champion has won her first match in one month after losing three consecutive matches since reaching the final in Eastbourne.
Cibulkova has scored her second win in straight sets in seven head-to-head matches in seven head-to-head matches against Makarova.
The Slovak clinched her first win against Makarova in four years after losing to her Russian rival.
Cibulkova converted four of her five break points and hit 20 winners to 17 unforced errors.
The first set went on serve in the first seven games. Cibulkova rallied from 3-5 down by winning the final four games of the first set. The Slovak earned the break at love, as Makarova was serving for the set and saved two game points in the final game.
The first seven games of the second set went on serve before Cibulkova got the first break to take a 5-3 lead. Makarova broke back, as Cibulkova was serving for the match, but the Slovakian player earned two match points, when Makarova made a double fault, and sealed the win with another break for 6-4.
Cibulkova will take on number 4 seed Angelique Kerber
“Every match that we played was really different. We are solid players, playing well, moving well. Today I was just aggressive and I love playing on the grass, as does she, so I felt really good”, said Cibulkova.