Pocket rocket Cibulková defies doubters to show skys the limit

Three Championship points had passed her by, but after continuing to hustle and harry, the Slovak reaped the rewards -- stunning world No. 1 Angelique Kerber to take the biggest title of her career.

They had said she was too small to play tennis, but the 5-foot 3-inch 'Pocket Rocket' would soon be standing tall with the Billie Jean King trophy in her hands. King, a pioneering giant of the women's game, is just over an inch taller.



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'It's hard to describe it with words,' Cibulkova told CNN. 'It just feels great and I've never been so happy in my life. Amazing!'

Motivation

Cibulková has always been a fighter.

In an age where height and power dominates, she has defied the odds from the start -- admitting after the match that some had sought to turn her away from the game growing up.

'They underestimated me. I really wanted to play tennis -- nobody could tell me different.'

Ranked 66th at the start of the year, it's been a long road to the top. Martina Navratilova, an eight-time winner of the WTA showpiece event, has remarked that the only time Cibulková stops working hard is when she's asleep -- something the 27-year-old attests to.

READ: Cibulkova stuns Angelique Kerber in Singapore

'I think she's right; I have to put something extra into my game and into my tennis to beat the taller girls,' said Cibulkova, who is five inches shorter than Sunday's opponent Kerber, and 10 below 6' 1' Karolina Pliskova, the tallest player in the top 10.

'My height -- this is something I deal with, and I'm happy to be the motivation for other people like me.'

The sky's the limit

The plucky Cibulková hit 28 winners and just 14 unforced errors on her way to becoming the first WTA finals debutant to take the title since Petra Kvitova in 2011.

After neutralizing the renowned Kerber return with an 83% first-serve percentage, Monday's rankings see her move into the top five for the first time ever.

'Right now I'm in the state of mind where I really believe in myself,' Cibulková says. 'I just really believe that I can be -- that I am -- one of the best tennis players in the world.

Visit cnn.com/tennis for more news and videos

'And I want to continue; I just want to see where I can get with this attitude. Hopefully I can get even further.'

Visit cnn.com/tennis for more news and videos Motivation 'They underestimated me. I really wanted to play tennis -- nobody could tell me different.' 'And I want to continue; I just want to see where I can get with this attitude. Hopefully I can get even further.' In an age where height and power dominates, she has defied the odds from the start -- admitting after the match that some had sought to turn her away from the game growing up. The plucky Cibulková hit 28 winners and just 14 unforced errors on her way to becoming the first WTA finals debutant to take the title since Petra Kvitova in 2011. 'My height -- this is something I deal with, and I'm happy to be the motivation for other people like me.' Ranked 66th at the start of the year, it's been a long road to the top. Martina Navratilova, an eight-time winner of the WTA showpiece event, has remarked that the only time Cibulková stops working hard is when she's asleep -- something the 27-year-old attests to. Three Championship points had passed her by, but after continuing to hustle and harry, the Slovak reaped the rewards -- stunning world No. 1 Angelique Kerber to take the biggest title of her career. Visit cnn.com/tennis for more news and videos The sky's the limit 'I think she's right; I have to put something extra into my game and into my tennis to beat the taller girls,' said Cibulkova, who is five inches shorter than Sunday's opponent Kerber, and 10 below 6' 1' Karolina Pliskova, the tallest player in the top 10. 'Right now I'm in the state of mind where I really believe in myself,' Cibulková says. 'I just really believe that I can be -- that I am -- one of the best tennis players in the world. Ranked 66th at the start of the year, it's been a long road to the top. Martina Navratilova, an eight-time winner of the WTA showpiece event, has remarked that the only time Cibulková stops working hard is when she's asleep -- something the 27-year-old attests to. Visit cnn.com/tennis for more news and videos Cibulková has always been a fighter. In an age where height and power dominates, she has defied the odds from the start -- admitting after the match that some had sought to turn her away from the game growing up. After neutralizing the renowned Kerber return with an 83% first-serve percentage, Monday's rankings see her move into the top five for the first time ever.

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