Radwanska Edges Past Broady
NEW YORK, NY, USA – No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska survived a roller encounter against Great Britain’s Naomi Broady to move into the third round at the US Open, 7-6(9), 6-3.
“I was just couple points better today,” Radwanska said after the match. “Definitely she pushed me 100% today.”
It took Radwanska a few games to get used to the Brit’s powerful serves and unconventional groundstrokes, and by the time Radwanska found her footing in the match Broady had her down 1-4, then 2-5. The No.4 seed reeled in Broady’s big game, pulling her into the net time and time again to draw out the errors.
She took the set into a tiebreak, where Radwanska blew a big 5-2 lead and misfired a routine backhand passing shot to allow Broady to claw her way back. The Brit fired off a timely ace to rattle off five of the next six points, bringing up two set points in the process. Radwanska wrestled both away, playing tug of war until the No.4 seed broke the big Broady serve to squeeze through in the opening set.
She was pushed all the way, but @ARadwanska takes the opener vs. #Broady in marathon tiebreak, 11-9. @chase #usopen https://t.co/2iT295faEC
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2016
“I think I was just too slow and didn’t really come in,” Radwanska explained the dramatic tiebreak. “You know, I pay the price, a couple set points down, it’s not fun. Especially, you know, she was serving unbelievable.
“So every point mattered in that tiebreak, especially when I could break her at least at one point.”
Broady didn’t give Radwanska any time to catch her breath, though, breaking her serve in the first game and immediately putting her in a 0-2 deficit to start off the second set. But after last’ set’s comeback, Radwanska was feeling much more comfortable against Broady’s style of play and quickly broke back to leave them even. Another late break sealed the match for Radwanska after a tense hour and 49 minutes.
Radwanska will play Caroline Garcia for a spot in the fourth round. The Pole is looking for her first quarterfinal berth, having never been past the fourth round in 11 appearances.
“Playing her is never easy,” Radwanska assessed the Frenchwoman’s game. “She’s very solid player, really hitting the ball hard, coming in. Just hitting really fast from the bounce. She’s not giving you much time.
“I think I will need to focus on the first ball, first shot, just not make her put everything in the middle because then I’ll be in trouble.”