Agnieszka Radwanska goes into the U.S. Open with a lot of confidence after winning her second WTA title at the Connecticut Open Saturday. The number one seed in the tournament won in straight sets against tenth seeded Elina Svitolina 6-1,7-5 on center court at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University.
This was the third time between the two top 25 seeds and the first time meeting for a chance at a title. The world number four has defeated Svitolina twice so far with the most recent coming almost a year ago. Radwanska defeated three-time and defending champion Petra Kvitova Friday setting up a chance to capture her first title since the start of 2016. While it hasn’t been the best of success in tournaments, her run to the top gives her a heavy advantage to end her woes.
Since the Olympics, the Ukrainian has been on a run since making it to the quarterfinals in Rio after defeating Serena Williams in one of the biggest victories of her career. While it didn’t produce points or a medal, it did increase her chances of playing stronger and making it a big push for a second WTA title this season. She hasn’t won since Malaysia back in February and gaining some ground just a day before the start of the U.S. Open would be an advantage for the 21-year-old.
Svitolina started on the return side of the ball as Radwanska got her serve started looking well off. She held off the Ukrainian from forcing deuce ending the game with a drop shot near the net holding service. She put a grip on Svitolina’s opener and won it by scoring a triple break point taking an early 2-0 lead.
A second chance came for the world number 23 but her actions weren’t strong enough to defeat Radwanska who had everything working for her. She immediately took a 4-0 run on Svitolina who only won once on the last five shots on serve. After the game was over and a 5-0 hole standing in front of her, Coach Iian Hughes came out to talk to Svitolina asking her to believe in herself and play her game instead of Radwanska’s game.
She served in the sixth saving two chances before fighting to deuce against the Pole. With all her efforts, the 21-year-old took a huge sigh of relief ending the shutout with a forced pop-up from Radwanska. A slight show of vulnerability allowed the Ukrainian to make a shot for a second game win. The world number four reeled in the troubles and served out the set to win it in 29 minutes.
Needing to turn things around, Svitolina opened the second set winning on serve for just the second time in the match. The Ukrainian added a second victory breaking the Polish star for a two game streak. It came to an end with Radwanska breaking in the third before leveling the second set. She took the lead away in the fifth but watched as Svitolina had the fight to even up at six. The same result occurred through eight with the 21-year-old not ready to go down and find a way to force a third set.
Svitolina attempted to make a break for a 5-4 lead to her name but an unforced error gave Radwanska the chance at the title serving for the championship in the tenth. Svitolina gave her all to survive and did so with a tenacity that pushed the set forward. She was alive after the 11th playing every point with all her potential and got the best of Radwanska to serve for the set in the 12th.
Svitolina looked good to end the set and put the pedal to the metal in the third but a battle from Radwanska proved too difficult. She came back down 15-40, forcing deuce before winning the game outright moving the set into a tiebreaker. Before the first switch, Radwanska gained a 4-2 lead over Svitolina hoping to hold her back. She inched closer to the required seven as a ball shot long by the Ukrainian set up championship point.
Svitolina saved it once but a second try went into the net after a ten shot rally that gave Radwanska the victory for her 19th career title as well as clinching the U.S. Open Series challenge. “Every title is a huge thing and I’m so happy to be first in the final and it couldn’t be any better,” Radwanska said to ESPN’s Rennae Stubbs.
It gives the fourth-seeded Polish star a lot of hope to do well at the final Grand Slam of the season with the possibility of winning $1 million if Radwanska goes on to win the Open.
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