Agnieszka Radwanska became the first Polish Grand Slam finalist for 73 years as the world number three cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Germany’s Angelique Kerber yesterday to setup a final against American Serena Williams who beat Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) in the other semi-final.
Radwanska’s first appearance in a Grand Slam final emulates the achievement of compatriot Jadwiga Jedrzejowska, who reached the French Championships final in 1939.
Radwanska deserved her moment of glory on Centre Court after a remarkably composed 70-minute display in her first major semi-final and she could yet leave London as both Wimbledon champion and the new world number one.
Deploying a consistent counter-punching game, Radwanska made just six unforced errors compared to 14 from the more aggressive but unfocused Kerber, who had been attempting to become the first German woman to reach a Grand Slam final since Steffi Graf at Wimbledon in 1999.
“I’m so happy, it’s amazing,” said Radwanska. “I played very good today. It’s always tough against Angie. We are very good friends but of course on court we were both fighting for the final. I think we were both a bit nervous in the beginning, but after a couple of games I relaxed.
“This is what I dreamed of since I was a kid. Everyone wants to reach a Grand Slam final. It is the best two weeks of my career.”
Serene eying fifth Wimbledon crown
Four-time champion Serena Williams buried Victoria Azarenka under a record firestorm of 24 aces to reach her seventh Wimbledon final. As well as a record 24 aces, beating her own best of 23 set against Zheng Jie in the third round, Williams also fired a whopping 45 winners.
Williams will start as the hot favourite on Saturday having beaten world number three Radwanska in their two meetings without dropping a set, including the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2008 where the American lost just four games.
“I’ve been working so hard, I really wanted it,” said Williams, the first 30-year-old to reach the All England Club final since Steffi Graf in 1999.
“She was playing well and I got a little tight in the second set. I was looking too far in the future. I was so close, but I can’t do that. I was happy to get through that second set tie-break.”
Meanwhile, in the men’s semi-finals, Novak Djokovic will play against Roger Federer while Andy Murray will tackle Jo Wilfried Tsonga today.
Serena Williams
“She was playing well and I got a little tight in the second set. I was looking too far in the future. I was happy to get through that second set tie-break.”
A Radwanska
“This is what I dreamed of since I was a kid. Every young player wants to reach a Grand Slam final.
It is the best two weeks of my career.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2012.
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