|
 The first win of the season for Radwanska, it provided a timely
jolt of confidence going into Flushing Meadows and the year's final
grand slam with 11 of her 14 career titles having come on hard
courts.
"One of my biggest title," said Radwanska, who has registered a long
line of firsts for tennis in her country, including Poland's first
grand slam finalist and first Pole to win a WTA Tour title. "As you
can see in the draw had pretty all top players. So very, very
special title for me.
"I think she (Williams) played great tennis whole week, playing and
beating a lot of good players on the way to the final.
"I think I even happier to beat Venus when she's really on fire."
Williams, a twice U.S. Open champion, will also be buoyed by her
performance in Montreal with a projected return on Monday to the
world rankings top 20 for the first time since March 2013.
The tournament also pushed Williams past the $30 million in career
earnings, joining an elite club that includes her sister Serena and
Maria Sharapova.
"I totally wanted to be in the top 20 like earlier this year," said
Williams. "I've been having goals. It's always a goal in mind for
myself and hopefully most tennis players.
"I would love to hit the top 16 and just keep going forward after
that. Obviously, if I can continue this level of tennis, it will be
something that can happen for me."
After a grinding and emotional three-set win over top ranked sister
Serena in Saturday's semi-finals, the 34-year-old American appeared
to have little left against an energetic and focused opponent almost
10 years her junior.
"It's been a really long week, I played like six matches in a row,"
said Williams. "Against her you really have to be patient.
"I just fell a little short today. I wanted to give more but I just
didn't have it.
[to top of second column] |
"I really would like to think under circumstances where I could give
everything I have, that the results could have been a little different.
"She just was a little too good today."
Radwanska took control early on a sunny center court, breaking Williams
twice to race in front 4-1.
Williams would break back but the world number five would not buckle and
easily took the opening set.
She opened the second set with another deflating break to quickly put
the pressure on Williams and then broke the dejected American again to
go up 5-2 before holding serve and finishing off the match with an
emphatic ace.
"I was playing much better every match," said Radwanska. "I didn't start
that well from my first match. I think every match was much better.
That's why I think I sitting right here now."
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Editing by Gene Cherry)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
