Dominika Cibullkova arrived in Doha ranked a career-high No. 5 and armed with the belief she will rise even higher.
“Yeah, for sure. I'm 100 percent convinced I can improve on the ranking,” Cibulkova told the media in Doha. “This is the mentality I need to have. I need to have the mentality I want to improve my ranking. I can see it go even further. If I would only want to stick to my ranking, I would be afraid that I don't want to lose the ranking, that's the mentality that would really not help me.
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"This is something I'm trying to work on with my coach and with my team. As I said, this is a new position for me. I'm trying to work out things well.”
Cibulkova will face either qualifier Jelena Jankovic or Australian Open quarterfinalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in her Qatar Total Open opener.
Since reaching the quarterfinals in her Doha debut in 2008, Cibulkova has managed just one win in her last three appearances in the desert.
All four of Cibulkova’s losses this season have come to opponents ranked outside the Top 30.
Cibulkova, who won four titles in 2016 including defeating then world No. 1 Angelique Kerber to capture the WTA Finals crown, said the higher she rises in the rankings, the more pressure she feels.
“Of course, you feel bigger pressure,” Cibulkova said. “The players just come on the court and they really want to beat you because they have nothing to lose. Even I was top 20 or even before I was top 10, to be in top five is still different position.
“I'm trying to not panic that this is something new for me. I'm trying to work on myself every day and get used to it.”
Photo credit: St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy/Formula_TX