Radwanska Survives Test To Keep Slam Dream Alive
Muhammad Rameez Published January 17, 2017 | 10:00 PM
MELBOURNE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2017 ) : Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska survived a dogfight to move into the Australian Open second round on Tuesday as she bids to end her long wait for a maiden Grand Slam title.
The third seed battled past fellow veteran, Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 and will next play Croat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who beat Chinese qualifier Wang Qiang in three sets. Radwanska, who lost in the final of the lead-up Sydney International, has consistently done well at Melbourne Park, making at least the quarter-finals in five of the previous six tournaments.
But she is yet to break through to win a title at any of the majors in 42 attempts spanning more than a decade. "I have played her (Pironkova) many times and knew she was good," said the 27-year-old.
"I'm very happy that I was able to come back strongly in the third set and pleased to be into the next round." An Australian semi-finalist last year, she is desperate to end her long wait and started methodically against Pironkova, who made the quarter-finals of the French Open last year, beating Radwanska along the way.
Nicknamed 'The Magician' for her shot-making, the Pole dug into her full box of tricks -- including a brilliant, between-the-legs winner. Radwanska worked an early break in the third game and won the first set in just 28 minutes with a trademark cross-court backhand earning her the final point.
But Pironkova, ranked 64, has plenty of experience and was playing her 45th consecutive Grand Slam -- the second longest active streak. She has never done well at Melbourne Park, failing to go beyond the second round in 11 previous appearances, but suddenly woke up as the second set got underway.
Pironkova won nine consecutive points on her way to going 2-0 in front, before Radwanska held serve in a long and crucial third game and then broke back to level the contest at 2-2. Neither player could hold serve and they traded breaks before the Bulgarian finally claimed an error-strewn second set.
But Radwanska raised her aggression in the third set and when the Bulgarian double-faulted to hand her a break and 2-0 lead, she didn't look back, eventually winning the match with an ace.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Business community alarmed by alleged Cigarette tax violations
High FED on cigarettes demonstrates positive impact
Punjab CM Maryam visits Zero Line Kartarpur Sharif to Inaugurate ‘Besakhi’
MoHR helpline received 1,460,460 calls since its inception
Court summons witnesses in arms & liquor case against KP CM
KP politicians, civil society laud President's address
Heavy rains and flash floods cause road closures in Chitral
Balochistan cabinet to be sworn in tomorrow
Former England Test batsman Raman Subba Row dies aged 92
SSP Larkarna issue directives for city traffic plan
Preparations discussed for Kohat by-elections in police meeting
Rybakina beats Kudermetova to reach last eight in Stuttgart
More Stories From Sports
-
Former England Test batsman Raman Subba Row dies aged 92
34 minutes ago -
Rybakina beats Kudermetova to reach last eight in Stuttgart
39 minutes ago -
Arsenal paid for 'big mistake' in Bayern defeat: Arteta
2 hours ago -
Matthews leads West Indies women to convincing victory over Pakistan in series opener
2 hours ago -
Former number one Momota retires from international badminton at 29
5 hours ago -
Former number one Momota retires from international badminton at 29
3 hours ago
-
Former number one Momota retires from international badminton at 29
7 hours ago -
Azam experiences discomfort during Wednesday's training session
3 hours ago -
Azam Khan likely to miss T20I series against Kiwis due to discomfort in right knee
7 hours ago -
Former number one Momota retires from international badminton at 29
7 hours ago -
Two Pak coaches complete UCI Level 1 course
9 hours ago -
National team determined for good performance against New Zealand: Babar Azam
10 hours ago