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Parmientier the only player to have reached the semis without dropping a single set

She came here after reaching an ITF final here last week. She proved good form in all three matches here and left by far the best impression compared to other semifinalists. Cibuklova won't have it easy here, especially because the Slovak displayed some weaknesses in all three matches here

Cibulkova is in the semis but we have to go back to the first round match she played with Witthoeft. The German has been out of form the entire season but she played a great match against Cibulkova and had a 4-1 lead in the third set. However, the Slovak ended up winning and after that improved her game in the Kulichkova match. Still, there were some problems there too, just like against Schiavone yesterday. 

- I wasn't as aggressive at the start as I can be. I think that suited her. The coach told me to play my game and to be more aggressive - Cibulkova said.

Schiavone caused her a lot of problems in the first set. She had a 4-2 lead, two straight break points for 5-2 and who knows how everything would have turned out if the Italian took advantage of that. She lost 5 out of the last 6 games in the first set and 6 straight games in the second set. 

- The first set was very close but once I won it things changed - the Slovak said about the key moment in the match:

- I lost the first game in the second set but I knew nothing bad has happened. When I won one long game for 4-1 I think, she got nervous. I went after my shots and that is the kind of a game I like to play.

The Slovak in the end managed to play her game and her pace. The Italian simply could not follow that in the second set. She was getting more nervous and didn't have energy on the court. However, the Slovak once again had ups and downs and the overall impression she left is not as good as at the last tournaments she played. 

Parmentier is the only player who managed to reach the semis without dropping a set. She got through to an ITF final last week and has overall been in fine form. She crushed the defending champion and then beat Broady, who can be very tricky, and dealt with Linette in straight sets yesterday. 

It's hard to say which part of Parmentier's game wasn't good here this week. Her footwork is great, her reading of the game as well. Also, the serve is good, as is the return. Her shots have depth and power and it seems like she has two solutions for every situation on the court at any given moment. That proves she is confident and has left by far the best impression in Katowice compared to other semifinalists. 

I do not understand why the odds at this handicap margin move like this. They were introduced as expected, then got up and then started dropping again. I think they will go back to where they were at start. It seems like they were done according to who Cibulkova is and Parmentier's ranking. If so, that is a big mistake. The Slovak had some problems and ups and down in her three matches here. She was 1-4 down in the third set in the first round and struggled with Kulichkova in the second set. Realistically, both could have gotten a set. Parmentier is the only semifinalist who has not yet dropped a single set. That really says it all. No only has she not lost a set, she has not even lost a single service game in 2 out of 3 matches. Her footwork is great, her reading of the game as well. Also, the serve is good, as is the return. Her shots have depth and power and it seems like she has two solutions for every situation on the court at any given moment. Cibulkova won't have it easy today. She failed to stay at a high level throughout the match here and Parmentier is capable of punishing her for that since she's been very consistent. I daresay she stands a chance of winning here. The handicap is a great way for us to be safe.