New No.4 Radwanska Conquers Shenzhen

Posted: Jan 01, 1970

SHENZHEN, China – A day after securing a return to World No.4 – just in time for a Top 4 seed at the Australian Open – Agnieszka Radwanska won the 18th WTA title of her career at the Shenzhen Open.

By reaching the final at the International-level event, Radwanska secured herself of passing Maria Sharapova for No.4 on the WTA Rankings, which guarantees her a coveted Top 4 seed in Melbourne.

And as if that weren’t enough, the No.1-seeded Pole played near-flawless tennis to win the title on Saturday afternoon, cruising past Alison Riske in the final in an hour and 16 minutes, 6-3, 6-2.

“I think Alison was really playing solid tennis today,” Radwanska said. “She has a very powerful game from the baseline – I was really struggling from the baseline. I was really in a lot of trouble there.

“But my serve really helped me today. Also in the deciding points I was a little bit better, and I think that’s why the score was the way it was – it made it look easier than the actual match was.”

Radwanska has now won 22 of 26 matches since the US Open, picking up her 15th through 18th WTA titles at Tokyo [Pan Pacific], Tianjin, the WTA Finals and Shenzhen. She’s now 18-7 in WTA finals.

The former World No.2 is hoping to come back to Shenzhen – and not just to defend the title.

“It was my first time here, but I actually didn’t have much time to see the city. I came here pretty late. Each night I was enjoying different dinners, but didn’t have much time to enjoy the city.

“So I think because of that, I really have to come back here to Shenzhen!”

Radwanska will now head to Sydney for one last round of matches before the Australian Open.

“It’s the beginning of the year, so we’re all fresh compared to the end of the year. I’m feeling good,” Radwanska commented. “Also I have a bye there, so I’ll have a couple of days off right now.”

The doubles final took place afterwards and saw Vania King and Monica Niculescu upset No.1-seeded all-Chinese pair Xu Yi-Fan and Zheng Saisai in straight sets in an hour and 11 minutes, 6-1, 6-4.

This was King and Niculescu’s first WTA doubles title together, but they now have 20 WTA doubles titles between them – King now has 15, including two Grand Slams, while Niculescu now has five.