Tennis: Cibulkova to play Golubic for Linz title and Singapore berth

Slovak Dominika Cibulkova in action in Austria. PHOTO: AFP

LINZ, Austria (AFP) - Slovak Dominika Cibulkova earned a straight sets win over Spaniard Carla Suarez on Saturday (Oct 15) to reach the WTA Linz final where a win will book her spot in the WTA Finals in Singapore.

The second-seeded Slovak will bid for her seventh career title against Swiss Viktorija Golubic, ranked 62, who advanced after American third seed Madison Keys withdrew because of a respiratory illness.

It will be Cibulkova's fourth final this year and puts her closer to a place in the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore where the world's top eight women compete from Oct 23 to 30.

Cibulkova, 27, who moved from 38th in the world at the beginning of the season to 10th, is currently ninth on the Road to Singapore Leaderboard and will qualify if she wins in Linz.

The Slovak has won two titles this year in Katowice, Poland and Eastbourne, England.

Golubic, who turns 24 on Sunday, will compete in her second WTA final, having won the first this year at Gstaad, Switzerland.

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