RADWANSKA REACHES FIRST MIAMI FINAL

Written by: Staff on 30th March 2012

RADWANSKA REACHES FIRST MIAMI FINAL |

Miami, U.S.A.

by Matt Fitzgerald

(Original Story: http://www.sonyericssonopen.com/News/Tennis/2012/Tournament/Thursday2/WTA-Radwanska-Reaches-Final.aspx )

Fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska advanced to her first Sony Ericsson Open final on Thursday, easing past seventh seed Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-2 to record her 25th victory of the year.

In a match that featured 15 service breaks, Radwanska broke Bartoli nine times to increase her undefeated reign over the Frenchwoman to a 7-0 mark.

“I’m just very happy that [I’ve played] my best tennis since the beginning of the year and [have won] a lot of great matches against top players,” said Radwanska. “I’m still going to work hard and step by step, [try] to go even higher.”

The Pole, yet to drop a set this tournament, is looking to win her second title of the year, having triumphed in Dubai (d. Georges). All four of her losses this season have come at the hands of World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka. Bartoli became the first player to knock off Azarenka in 2012 when she upset the Australian Open champion in the quarter-finals.

Radwanska will play three-time Miami finalist Maria Sharapova in Saturday’s title match, bidding to overturn a six-match losing streak against the Russian.

“It’s always hard to play against her if she’s in good shape. It’s really tough,” Radwanska said. “She’s really hitting the ball very hard and going for it since the beginning. I’m just going to try to also play aggressive and pretty much mix everything. We’ll see what is going to work.”

Topics: Agnieszka Radwanska, Sony Ericsson Open