Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska moved to within one step of retaining her Pan Pacific Open title yesterday, overwhelming Angelique Kerber with a dominant performance in the semi-finals.
The Polish third seed, who defeated 2010 champion Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the quarter-finals, needed just 59 minutes to score a resounding 6-1, 6-1 victory over the German fifth seed.
In the final today, Radwanska plays Nadia Petrova of Russia, who defeated eighth seed Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-4, 6-2.
Photo: AFP
“Actually, we played before a couple of times and it was always tough. Even though it was 6-1, 6-1, it was still a very tough match. I really had to run a lot to win the match,” Radwanska, 23, said. “She is a very smart player, she mixed up a lot of shots and she is a lefty, so it’s always hard. I really had to stay focused from the beginning till the end to win the match. Actually, I’m very happy that I played my best tennis.”
Kerber, who received a free ticket to the semi-finals after world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus withdrew due to fatigue, struggled to hold her service games throughout the match.
The German, who broke her opponent in the third game of the first set, had to wait until the first game of the second set to hold her serve for the first time, hitting two aces in a row at 30-0, but that was the most she could do.
Kerber, who double-faulted twice to give a 30-40 match point to Radwanska in the seventh game, tenaciously saved three match points against her, but Kerber then hit a backhand return wide to surrender the match on Radwanska’s fourth match point.
Looking ahead to the match against 17th seed Petrova, Radwanska said: “For sure, she is a very good player and she is playing great tennis this week.”
“It’s going to be tough, for sure, it will not be easy. I’m just very, very happy that I reached the final again. Of course, I’ll do everything tomorrow to have the title,” she said.
Meanwhile, Petrova pulled off an early break in each set and never faced a serious situation in the 107-minute match.
“It was really a good match,” Petrova said. “Samantha played very well, she defeated Maria [Sharapova of Russia], one of the top players right now, but I had a good performance and I’m very happy that I served out at the end.”
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
RSS