Radwanska Slices Past Tricky Niculescu

Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MONTRÉAL, Canada – 2014 Montréal champion Agnieszka Radwanska came away victorious in a battle of trick shots against Monica Niculescu, dodging three set points to survive a late challenge and advance to the third round of the Rogers Cup, 6-1, 7-5.

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The fans at Court Central were treated to an array of slices, drop shots and variety as the pair of trick shot queens faced off for the third time in 2016. Despite having similar playing styles, Radwanska owns the edge in their head-to-head record, coming into the match up having won all of their previous hardcourt meetings.

Niculescu struggled to meet Radwanska shot for shot early on in the match as her signature forehand slice seemed to be missing from her game. She struck almost twice as many unforced errors as Radwanska – 13 to the Pole’s 7 – and quickly found herself trailing a double break. She got on board at 4-1, but she couldn’t stop Radwanska’s all-out assault as the No.4 seed powered on to take the first set 6-1.

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But what looked to be shaping up into a straightforward victory for Radwanska got a little more complicated as Niculescu took off in the second set. Whereas in the first set Niculescu couldn’t find a way to pressure Radwanska’s serve, in the second she and Radwanska traded five consecutive breaks of serve as the Pole struggled to win points behind her vulnerable second serve.

Radwanska faced down three set points on the Romanian’s serve at 5-4 as Niculescu looked ready to extend the match. She dodged all three and ultimately earned the break on a drop shot that clipped the netcord and dribbles over. She reeled off the final four games of the match to earn her spot in the third round.

She’s set to play Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a place in the last eight after the Russian overcame Christina McHale 6-2, 7-5.