EASTBOURNE (UNITED KINGDOM) - Dominika Cibulkova stepped up her bid for a first grass court title by winning two matches on Friday to reach the final of the WTA Eastbourne event.
Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova in action at the WTA Eastbourne International tennis tournament on June 22, 2016
The Slovak began her day by turning around a deficit of a set and a break from a rainy Thursday night to beat top seed Agnieszka Radwanska 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 in the quarter-finals.
She then had just a few hours for an ice bath and lunch before warming up again for her semi-final where she hammered Puerto Rican qualifier Monica Puig 6-2, 6-1 in 72 minutes.
Cibulkova will now face either 10th seed Karolina Pliskova or British 11th seed Johanna Konta in Saturday's final.
Cibulkova will be playing her fourth final of the season and bidding for a second title of 2016 after winning in Katowice in April.
The player, who had an Achilles tendon operation last year, and almost fell out of the top 50, is playing Eastbourne, a traditional Wimbledon tune-up, for only the second time.
"This is my best day ever on a grass court. I'm extremely happy," said the former Australian Open runner-up.
"I'm playing really well and got confidence from beating Aga in the first match. The match with Monica was completely different, another style.
"But I was able to win and I'm happy. We will see about the final, This will be my first final on grass so I'm really satisfied."
Against Radwanska, Cibulkova trailed 6-4, 3-2 when their quarter-final was forced off court.
Sunshine and a stiff wind presented fresh challenges as Cibulkova advanced with her upset on Friday.
"I'm very happy with this win, Aggie and I have played lots of times (this was their 12th) but never on grass.
"Conditions made it difficult but I found myself playing better and better with each game. I came back strong today -- that's why I won."
Konta, an Australian Open semi-finalist, reached the semi-finals by beating former champion Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
Radwanska said that despite her loss, she is confidently focused on the Monday start of Wimbledon where she was runner-up in 2012.
"I'm healthy. I'm good. Ready for Wimbledon. Of course it's always disappointing when you lose, and especially that type of long match. Well,what can you do?" she said.
"Maybe I have maximum three days of practise at Wimbledon. It's not much, but I'm in the match rhythm.
Konta rallied after losing her opening service game against Makarova, who won the 2010 title.
The Australian-born British number one, who stood 140th a year ago and reached the top 20 last week, hung on in a first-set tiebreak before closing out victory in straight sets.
"I was happy to come out today at home," said the local player, ranked 18th and who stands 0-2 in her match-ups against Pliskova.
"It's not too bad playing two matches on the same day, the adrenaline takes over."