Rybarikova wins Edgbaston

Eurosport - Mon, 15 Jun 09:22:00 2009

Little-known Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova won her first WTA title 6-0 7-6 against China's Li Na at the Edgbaston Classic.

TENNIS Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova celebrates with the trophy after defeating China's Li Na in the Singles Final at the Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham - 0

Seeded 13, the 20-year-old Rybarikova used her serve-and-volley game effectively early on against the fourth seed to breeze through the first set.

Rybarikova, ranked 38 places below Li, then ground out a close second set by winning the tiebreak 7-2.

"I won the first set so easily but the second was so tough as she started to play so much better," said the Slovak, who is projected to climb to a career high 42 when the rankings are released on Monday.

"I was very nervous in the tiebreak, but she looked more nervous than me, so that helped me concentrate even harder.

"Winning today is the best feeling of my career so far. It's unbelievable. Just like a dream," added Rybarikova, who was a junior Wimbledon runner-up in 2006.

Li struggled to reproduce the form that helped her to knock out Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals and the Chinese number two admitted she was still caught up in beating the Russian for the first time in six attempts.

"I was so excited last night after I beat Sharapova. I forgot I had a match today," said Li. "It has been a good week for me though. I like grass very much."

Reuters

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

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  1. i went to birmingham towatch rybarikova play on friday.­ she is­ really good. she has lots of shots and alot of­ skill. i­ also like her cheeky smile. she is a real­ personality,­ and i think she can do well. the older­ she gets is the­ stronger she will get. i think venus­ or serena will wimbledon.

    From mega, on Mon 15 Jun 4:19PM

  2. samtennis
    thank you for confirming my point; you know­ nothing.

    From cameron w, on Mon 15 Jun 12:02PM

  3. Congrats to Magdalena! Li was playing superbly against­ Sharapova in the semis, but yesterday she was too­ agressive and missed many shots probably cause she got­ nervous. Rybarikova is such an amazing player! superb­ shots, very good serve, talent and mental strenght;­ this girl has got future, for sure! Na Li is a great­ player, but I think she got a little bit more excited­ after her win against Maria and lost her chances in the­ final. Looking forward to watch Wimbledon; It's a­ shame eurosport doesn't broadcast that!

    From sideway m, on Mon 15 Jun 11:53AM

  4. She looks just like Sharapova..and she acts like­ sharapova..When she won she raised her hands in the air­ like maria does..Maybe when she wins a slam she will­ lay down on her knees and do what sharapova does..Many­ young players Look up at maria and want to be like­ her:D:D..!!Glad to see her win:D:D

    From Milot S, on Mon 15 Jun 8:28AM

  5. Sorry for Dinara Safina.. Her being number one seems to­ be just a decoration. She has yet to prove her being­ number one by winning a major tournament..

    From samtennis, on Mon 15 Jun 8:18AM

  6. i believe that the forthcoming 2009 wimbledon­ championships will be dominated by the Serena and venus­ Williams. If they will be entered in the doubles­ competition, surely, they will make it. I just hope­ that Andy Roddick will rebound in this year's­ Wimbledon Event following his regretful exits and­ losses against the formidable RF..I am a longtime fan­ of Venus, Serena and Andy Roddick, Roger Federer in the­ male side...

    From samtennis, on Mon 15 Jun 8:17AM

  7. Congratulations Magda for winning your first WTA title­ at BIRMINGHAM.

    From Andrew Broad, on Mon 15 Jun 1:05AM

  8. ALL THE PLAYERS AT EASTBOURNE ARE NOT WINNING­ WIMBLEDON...ITS FOR VENUS WILLIAMS

    From susan, on Sun 14 Jun 11:08PM

  9. SHARAPOVA IS OLD ,THERE ARE BETTER YOUNGER PLAYERS.
    THE­ FOLLOWING ARE ­ OLD
    1.IVANOVIC
    2.VAIDISOVA
    3.JANKOVIC
    4.SAFINA
    5.HANTUC­ HOVA
    6.SHARAPOVA
    7.DEMENTIEVA
    8.CHAKVETADZE

    From susan, on Sun 14 Jun 11:07PM

  10. No sue Harding, you are not being picky. Eastbourne,­ unlike Edgebaston, is a serious tournament and will­ have a high class field of players. Rybarikova­ dosen't have a prayer of making this headline come­ true.

    From Bobito, on Sun 14 Jun 11:04PM

  11. It's not a 'Slam', so you are a rubbish­ player - isn't that the mantra of the tennis­ 'fan' . . . . utter tosh!
    Well done girl.

    From cameron w, on Sun 14 Jun 9:43PM

  12. Congratulations, well done :)

    From JamesH, on Sun 14 Jun 5:33PM

  13. Well done the young guns are a coming.Look out top­ seeds you could be in for a surprises.
    Yes the headline­ on this page is wrong its not eastbourne she won but­ birmingham.Come on eurosport what you playing at.

    From AJ, on Sun 14 Jun 5:00PM

  14. Maybe I'm picky - but the headline is wrong! The­ Eastbourne tournament hasn't been contested yet!­ (and Edgbaston is a long way from the south coast! :-p)

    From susan, on Sun 14 Jun 4:30PM

  15. She's one of the new breed like Cibulkova. The­ oldies better watch out, these newbies are ruthless.­ well done Maggie.

    From Phillipa, on Sun 14 Jun 3:38PM

  16. That's nice not to have the same players winning­ all the time!

    From fjcraveirocarvalho, on Sun 14 Jun 3:03PM
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