Radwanska Wants To Defend Her Dubai Title And Reach For Number One Ranking

Written by: Staff on 19th February 2013

Brisbane International tennis tournament

Radwanska Wants To Defend Her Dubai Title And Reach For Number One Ranking

epa03522919 Serena Williams of the USA serves to Sloane Stephens of the USA during their quarter final match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, 03 January 2013. Williams defeated Stephens 6-4, 6-3. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Amidst all the hullaballoo of Serena Williams reclaiming the world no.1 spot at the age of 31 and Victoria Azarenka still beating her to win last week’s Qatar Total Open, Agnieszka Radwanska is almost flying below the radar as she begins her defence of the Dubai Duty Free Championships.

But Radwanska, still the only member of the WTA’s top five not to win a major title is intent becoming the next woman to top the world rankings and as she prepared to start her Dubai campaign she was extremely serious as she proclaimed: “I hope I can be world no.1 as I am working very hard for that goal.

“I think that being no.1 has so much more to do with the Grand Slam tournaments as there are a lot of points to be won at those tournaments. But I think I can do it.”

The closest Radwanska came to triumph in the majors was at Wimbledon last year when she extended Serena Williams to three sets but the first ever Pole Grand Slam finalist and the first player from her country to beat a reigning world no.1 (Caroline Wozniacki at Sydney early in 2012), is still optimistic.

“Being no.1 is not just about one of two tournaments,” said the player who turns 24 years of age early next month and last year went on from Dubai to win the Sony Open title in Miami. “It’s always exciting that things are very tight at the top with Serena and Victoria, and it’s nice to have a rivalry going. But for me there’s no pressure and I am totally focused on what I want to achieve.”

Radwanska has already won two titles this year, at Auckland and then Sydney and she admitted: “Definitely I had a great start to the year, winning two titles in a row. Winning against top players gives a great feeling but I want to win a major now.

“Last year I went pretty close and I am determined to try again this time. Getting to the Wimbledon final made it very different to other tournaments. When I went on court everything around was much bigger and I was very nervous. Now at least I know how it feels and next time I can benefit from that experience.”

On her views on the Dubai title defence? “I will try not to think about the pressure and defending my ranking points here,” she said. “It’s always at the back of my head that I won here last year and I am here to defend. It’s always a tough and strong tournament here.”

Radwanska was joined in the Dubai main draw by her 22 year-old younger sister Urszula who won through the qualifying rounds.

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: Agnieszka Radwanska, Qatar Total Open, Serena Williams, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenk, Wta