Agnieszka Radwanska was untroubled in her opening round match at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships. The former finalist needed little over an hour to defeat Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine 6-2, 6-1. The third seed was dialed in on return, breaking serve five times in the straight sets victory.
Radwanska off to fast start
It was Kozlova who would get the first opportunity of the match, reaching break point in the first game. She was forced into an error which would prove very costly. After Radwanska held, she turned the tables on her opponent quickly, racing ahead 15-40 in the Ukrainian’s opening service game and converting her second break point to grab an early 2-0 lead. After the Pole held to stretch the lead to 3-0, she would again grab a 15-40 lead and this time only needed one break point to wrap up the break and make it a double break lead.
Almost out of nowhere, Kozlova suddenly turned the momentum around, racing to double break point herself and was gifted one of the breaks back when Radwanska double faulted. She then cruised through her next game, holding to love. The third seed would stop the run with a hold for 5-2 and, with Kozlova serving to stay in the set, the Pole put the pressure back on her opponent. Up 40-30, the Ukrainian cracked, hitting back to back unforced errors to give Radwanska set point. The third seed only needed one chance, as she hit a volley winner to wrap up the opening set.
Third seed rolls into round two
Just like the opening set, Radwanska was forced to save a break point in the first game of the set. It seemed as though the momentum had deserted the Pole, as four errors, two unforced, gave Kozlova a love hold. After Radwanska held, Kozlova’s level dropped in a big way. Leading 40-15, the Ukrainian double faulted and followed it up with three straight unforced errors to give the break to the third seed.
Back in control, Radwanska started to cruise. Another hold stretched her lead to 4-1 before she broke to love to give herself a chance to serve out the match. Kozlova would make one last stand as the Pole served for it, saving the first two match points and pushing the game to deuce twice. But on the third match point, the Ukrainian would miss a forehand to send Radwanska into the set second round after only 62 minutes.
By the numbers
Radwanska was dominant on return, limiting her opponent to only 52 percent of her first serve points and a mere four points on her second serve. Both women had 14 winners but Radwanska’s consistent, grinding defence made a big difference as Kozlova had 24 unforced errors, while the Pole only had 14. The Ukrainian only converted one of her three break points, while the third seed scored five of six.
Radwanska awaits the winner between Karin Knapp and Ana Konjuh in the second round.