Radwanska revels in 'normal' feel of Pliskova victory
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[October 29, 2016]
By John O'Brien
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The WTA Finals
can produce all manner of confusing permutations for the players and
fans alike as the round robin format reaches a climax, so defending
champion Agnieszka Radwanska was relieved to be in a
winner-takes-all situation on Friday.
Last year, she won the title with a 1-2 pool phase record, relying
on others to help her advance before she battled past Garbine
Muguruza in the semi-finals and then Petra Kvitova to register the
biggest title win of her career.
On Friday she found herself in a straight shootout situation against
big-serving Czech Karolina Pliskova and the Polish world number
three rose to the occasion, battling to a 7-5 6-3 victory to set up
a last four encounter against Angelique Kerber.
"I think that was simple as it felt like a normal tournament. You
win, you're still there. You lose, you're out. Not much maths
there," the 27-year-old told reporters.
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"But I knew I had to play my best tennis against her. She was
showing only good tennis this week as well. Of course, I prepared
that she's going to serve good and that's what she did," added the
Pole.
"Some of the games I was just pretty much watching her serve."
Looking ahead to Saturday's semi-final against the world number one,
Radwanska believes she has a good a chance to emerge victorious.
"She's number one now and she's going to finish the year as number
one but I still think all the matches here are 50-50," Radwanska
added of her German opponent, who won the Australian and U.S. Opens
in a breakout campaign.
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![](../images/102916pics/sports61.jpg)
Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland celebrates after defeating Karolina
Pliskova of the Czech Republic REUTERS/Edgar Su
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"She probably feels more pressure after the season she has had and
being number one but I think, well, everyone can really go through."
"Everything is open in semi-finals."
Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova takes on Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova
in the other semi-final.
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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