Agnieszka Radwanska, seeded 15th, at the US Open made quick work of her opponent Katerina Siniakova in her opening match at the US Open. The Pole was seeded 4th last year at Flushing Meadows, but her early season struggles this year dropped her ranking outside of the top ten. She’s worked her way back up slowly after her semifinal showing at Wimbledon.
Opening set to Radwanska
The Pole used the opening game to assert herself quickly with a hold at 15. The Czech soon followed that with a hold at love to try and show Radwanska that this match was not going to be an easy one. After another hold to 15, the former world number two stamped her authority.
In the following service game, the Pole broke at 15 for a 3-1 lead and consolidated to go up 4-1. In the sixth game, which was the longest game of the match, Siniakova fell behind 15-40. She saved both break points before falling behind three break points again in the game after the first three deuces. Despite five chances, Radwanska was unable to convert any as the Czech held for 2-4.
It didn’t take that much longer for Radwanska to close out the set though as she broke Siniakova’s serve once again in the eighth game for the set at 6-2. The Pole was steady on her serve hitting 71 percent of first serves in while winning 80 percent of those points and won 67 percent of her second serve points. As per usual, Radwanska was a bit behind in the winners department (11 to 4), but her lack of unforced errors (17 to 4) helped her win the opening set.
After trading breaks, Radwanska closes it out in straights
The two women traded breaks to start the second set with both women breaking at 30. After that, it was pretty much one-way traffic for the server until the fourth and eighth games when Siniakova was serving. The Czech was pushed to deuce in that fourth service game, but Radwanska could not really put any pressure on her.
It was in that eighth game where Radwanska finally found the breakthrough. A quick break at 15 then a love hold to consolidate that break to take the match 6-2, 6-3. The Pole, more known for her wide range of shots rather than her power, hit more aces (three to none for the Czech) and winners in the set (11 to 4). Radwanska could potentially meet her sister, Urszula, if she defeats another Pole, Magda Linette.