Radwanska Holds Off Venus Williams for Rogers Cup Crown
Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska upended Venus Williams 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday in Montreal to become the first Polish player to win a Rogers Cup crown. The win was the first tournament victory of the season for Radwanska and she used an outstanding return game to dominate the 34-year old Williams from the start.
Venus had just come off a hard-fought and long three-set battle with her younger sister, Serena, in the semifinals Saturday. Venus got the better of Serena in that match, but was unable to match the intensity and energy that Radwanska brought on Sunday.
Radwanska raced out to a 4-1 lead in the first set before Venus cut it to 4-3, but the Pole was just too sharp to let the lead slip away. She would hold and serve out the rest of the set to take it 6-4, and raced out to a 2-0 lead early in the second. After a Williams double fault gave Radwanska a break point, she would not look back and served out the set to finish off Williams.
“I think I was playing much better every match,” said Radwanska of her improved play from match to match. “I didn’t start that well from my first match, but every match was much better. That’s why I think I’m sitting right here now with you. I was feeling the balls much better.”
The win is the 14th tournament victory in Radwanska’s career and she maintains her spot in the top five world rankings. As for Venus, her long tournament run which saw her notch victories over some of the top players in the world, is encouraged by her play this week despite the disappointing showing in the final.
“Today I just didn’t have everything to be patient and really work the point,” said Williams. “I wanted to give more, but I just didn’t have it. It felt great to play so well this week. I really would like to think under circumstances where I could give everything I have, that the results could have been a little different.”
Both Radwanska and Williams will continue their play this week at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Venus will take on Lucie Safarova on Tuesaday while Radwanska receives a bye into the second-round.
