Johanna Konta had her best moment of her career come true at the Apia Sydney International Friday. The hometown girl dominated from start to finish against Agnieszka Radwanska winning 6-4, 6-2 to win her second career WTA title at Ken Rosewall Arena at Sydney Olympic Park.
This was the third meeting between the two top ten players and the second time meeting in the final. For the world number three, she has been able to take down Konta the last two times with the second one denying the Brit a second WTA title. The 25 year old found herself again vying for a second title but had Radwanska standing in her way. She had only been able to steal a set away but nothing beyond. She would quickly become aware of what she had to do in order to pull off a massive upset or face the end of the tournament.
The Pole set the pace early in her opening serve rushing the Brit with a love service. She nearly made it to a full break until Konta got on the board in the second saving herself to force deuce and win after a break. The hold of serve allowed her to be fierce in the third game putting pressure on Radwanska’s service. She captured the first break giving a clear indication of her fight.
Konta gained the lead in the set going up 3-1 after four, but the world number three marched her way back on serve. Despite her holds of serve, Konta managed to hold her own keeping herself a game ahead of Radwanska through seven decisions. The eighth had the Brit back on the ball taking another hold of serve that put Radwanska into a corner to match her opponent or go down a set.
Radwanska brought her best in the ninth to prevent the set break and force Konta to get it done on her own service in the tenth. She dominated well taking a net front presence that had Radwanska running for the returns. Konta got to triple set point where the short rally saw Radwanska’s shot fall wide of the court ending the set in 45 minutes and a huge statement going into the second set. The 25-year-old took a timeout with her coach who kept her calm and collected during the break. The biggest surprise was that Konta had nearly 20 unforced errors in the set and was ahead of the second seed.
She started the second set with a break of Radwanska growing a winning streak between sets that was due to her strong returns against the Polish powerhouse. Unforced errors were riddling Radwanska’s game that led to another game for Konta making it three straight wins. The Sydney native never left off the gas pressing the world number three into submission during the third.
It led Radwanska to take a talk with coach Tomaz Wiktorowski who urged her to dig in and save the set by any means that she could. It didn’t help her as Konta was running away with the set coasting through another hold of serve that gave her a 4-0 rout. Radwanska got desperate on her serve attempting to pull out the trick shots against the sixth seed. Her attempt never got over the net causing her to give in and keep playing forward.
She somehow pulled out a victory during the fifth game that put her on the board hoping that it was enough to change the tide of control. It didn’t as Konta played the sixth game with two game points landing an ace to take a 5-1 hold. Radwanska was on the ropes in the seventh serving up what was thought to be the last game for Konta. Radwanska had other plans smashing an ace before following it up with a winner down the line. She went for another winner but saw Konta win her 30th of the match. The Polish star managed to hang on gaining a second win but still on the edge of defeat.
The Brit opened the seventh serving for her second title and first of the season with a repertoire of shots. A pair of aces helped her climb back to level score before a third put her on championship point. The rally ended with a trick shot attempt that never crossed the net needing a second chance to get it done. She had to regroup on deuce to do it where a final ace gave her the title ending 1 hour and 21 minutes.
Konta had 32 total winners with seven aces and not one double fault to her name against Radwanska. The performance on court not only gave her a sentimental title victory but also a solid amount of confidence that puts her in a good place entering next week’s Australian Open.
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