Dinara Safina defeated Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-1 to capture the WTA Rogers Cup for her third title in her last six events.

"I was just playing whatever I was feeling, so I guess it was the right tactic today," said Safina, who was quite emotional, and whose voice was shaking as she was interviewed on court.

"I came onto the court thinking OK, it's not going to be an easy match," said Safina, "I would say I was more experienced in finals and it paid off."

"I hit some good shots and, in the crucial moments, she gave me some good mistakes - that I could say 'thank you' - and that helped me win in two sets."


It was a second win in a row for Safina, who had downed Flavia Pennetta in the final in Los Angeles last week. She also reached the final of five of her last six tournaments, including the French Open in May where she lost to compatriot Maria Sharapova.

"It's just unbelievable - it's a first-time experience for me," she said. "Normally, if I win a tournament, the next week I'd always lose in the first round."

"When I won my first match, I thought OK, it's better than the previous times. Then I just took it one match at a time."

Safina may be one of the gold medal favourites for the Beijing Olympics both because she is hot and healthy, while Sharapova is out with a shoulder injury and stars like Ivanovic, Jankovic and Serena Williams are nursing injuries.

Dominika Cibulkova, who was in just her second career final, had been a giant-killer this week, upsetting world No. 2 Jelena Jankovic, sixth-ranked Elena Dementieva and No. 12 seed Nadia Petrova.

"I was pretty nervous in my first big final and I wished to play better," Cibulkova said. "Every round, I beat a better player than me. I just played really well in this tournament. That's how I say it's a great experience for me because, next final, you know, I will be more relaxed and I will be not like, you know, scared about it."

Cibulkova is also headed to Beijing.

"I hope I play well," she said. "Now I have enough confidence to believe in myself, so we will see.

"This was my best week ever and I really enjoyed it. When you beat your idol (Jankovic) or a player you always looked up to (Dementieva), it's something special. I hope to have more weeks like this."

And she promised: "Next final, I will be more relaxed and not so scared about it."

Jankovic who will become No. 1 as of the Aug. 11, the next week, after the Olympic Games, will be replaced at the top by either current No. 1 Ivanovic or No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Safina, with not too many points to defend before the end of the year, has a chance to make it to No. 1.

But she is reticent to say much about that. "I don't want to think about it," she said. "I just want to be healthy and take one step at a time. Let's see if I can ever make it."


(source The Canadian Press, photo/Elsa/Getty Images)

Dinara Safina wins Rogers Cup