Auckland – World number four Agnieszka Radwanska swept to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Yanina Wickmayer in the ASB Classic final on Saturday, setting her up perfectly for this month's Australian Open.
“I'm very, very happy. I couldn't have asked for a better way to start the year,” said the Wimbledon finalist after strolling through the week-long Auckland tournament without dropping a set.
“It's a great way to prepare for the Australian Open.”
The Polish star was off to buy her 11th Louis Vuitton handbag to celebrate Ä the tournament top-seed says she traditionally treats herself to a new handbag “as a reward” for each WTA title and already has 10 in her collection.
After being forced into two tie breaks in her semi-final against unseeded American Jamie Hampton, Radwanska took early control in the final against Wickmayer when she broke the Belgian's second serve.
Although she dropped her own serve at 4-3 she immediately broke Wickmayer again before serving for the set.
With the Belgian having trouble handling Radwanska's short ball, the Pole made the decisive break in the second set at 3-3.
Wickmayer, making her third Auckland final in four years and a winner in 2010, was in trouble on her next serve at 3-5 and 0-40
down but fought back to keep her hopes alive before Radwanska served out for the match.
“I'm disappointed but I left my heart and soul on court,” Wickmayer said. “I was trying to be as aggressive as I could but it wasn't enough today.”
Radwanska took one hour 37 minutes to wrap up the final and now goes 2-1 up in her head-to-head matches with Wickmayer who was the tournament third seed and is ranked 23rd in the world. – Sapa-AFP