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Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.
Agnieszka Radwanska ended top seed Simona Halep’s dreams of glory at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global after a straight set victory in their third and final round robin match on Thursday.
The 7-6(5), 6-1 win keeps alive Radwanska’s slim chances of progressing to the semifinals, which will now rest on the outcome of the evening match between Maria Sharapova and Flavia Pennetta.
Radwanska had lost her first two matches of the tournament and her hopes of breaking this duck suffered an early setback, the World No.2 breaking in the first game and threatening to repeat the feat several times as Radwanska struggled to find her range.
The Pole, however, called on her famed retrieving skills to level up the contest before crafting two set points in the 10th game, only for Halep to fend both off courtesy of some audacious shot-making.
In the subsequent tie-break with Halep ahead 5-1, it appeared the Romanian would seize the set that would end Radwanska’s interest in the tournament.
Her opponent had other ideas though, and threw herself around the court to reel off six straight points and seal the opener when Halep chipped wide at the end of a thrilling rally that had the crowd on their feet in appreciation.
“That tie-break was something else and I just managed to make some great points at important moments. It’s very nice to hear people say my tennis is entertaining so I hope I can keep hearing people say that over and over again,” Radwanska said.
The loss of the set took the wind from Halep’s sails, Radwanska pulling out all her party pieces to storm through the second set in half an hour and wrap up the 500th match win of her career.
Despite the stunning display, Radwanska can only advance if Sharapova defeats Pennetta in straight sets. Any other result will send the Italian through to the last four with Sharapova in her final tournament before she retires.
Source: WTA
Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.
