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29 March 2024

Radwanska sees off Kerber to reach final

Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland celebrates after defeating Angelique Kerber of Germany in their women's semi-final tennis match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London on Thursday July 5. (Reuters)

Published
By Reuters

Agnieszka Radwanska became the first Pole to reach a grand slam final for 73 years when she overpowered German Angelique Kerber 6-3 6-4 on Thursday in her Wimbledon semi.

After a shaky start, the third seed proved too consistent for her friend Kerber, who had led the first set 3-1 following an early break.

But Radwanska found her range and grew in confidence, forcing the left-handed Kerber to run around court.
"We are really good friends, of course, but on court we're opponents and you're trying everything to make the final," Radwanska said.

 "We both were a bit nervous at the beginning, of course. You really want to try your best but sometimes you want it too much and your hands are shaking about, but after that I concentrated on every point."

The 23-year-old broke back to level the first set at 3-3 when eighth seed Kerber netted a forehand and did so again to lead 5-3 before serving out for the set, which she sealed with an ace in under half an hour.

Radwanska broke again early in the second set and although Kerber had one huge chance to level for 3-3, when her opponent put a backhand behind the baseline following a 16-stroke rally, the German wasted it sending a forehand long.

After that, Kerber never looked like getting back into the match and Radwanska sealed victory on her first matchpoint to become only the second Pole to reach a grand slam final.

Jadwiga Jedrzejowska was the runner-up at the 1937 Wimbledon and U.S. Championships and the 1939 French Championships.

Radwanska will play second seed Victoria Azarenka or number six Serena Williams in Saturday's final.