Radwanska Punishes Bencic in Tokyo Finale

Agnieszka Radwanska will rejoin the Top 10 on the WTA Rankings after easily trumping Swiss rising star Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-2 in the final of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
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The Swiss had beaten Radwanska in their most previous meeting, and came into the final with Top 10 wins over Garbine Muguruza and Caroline Wozniacki under her belt, but it meant little against the steady, controlling game of Radwanska, who hit almost twice the winners to unforced errors during the contest.

“Belinda really pushed me to play 200 percent,” Radwnska said. “The pressure was always in the back of my head. I knew I was playing one of the best players in the world, but this is the final and you just want to win, so you do whatever it takes to win every point.” Radwanska improved to 15-7 career in finals after her first championship in over a year, while Bencic fell to 2-3.

Jankovic Tames Streaking Allertova for Guangzhou Title

Former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic brought a halt to the upset run of Denisa Allertova 6-2, 6-0 on Sunday in the final of the Guangzhou International Women’s Open, her first title of 2015.

Allertova’s upset run during the week included wins over No. 1 seed Simona Halep and No. 3 seed Sara Errani to reach her career-first WTA final. “It was an amazing time for me here,” the Czech Allertova said. “I’m so happy I could beat so many good players here and play my first final. Jelena was too good, but I’m happy with my week.”

For Jankovic it was a first WTA title in more than two years, improving to 14-20 in finals.

Begu Shows Seoul in Korea Open Victory

Top-seeded Irina-Camelia Begu stopped the qualifying run of Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-3, 6-1 on Sunday to win the Korea Open in Seoul.

“I think the key today was to stay calm and make my opponent run more, and I think I was successful in those,” Begu said. “I was also hitting the balls deep and close to the lines…I wasn’t dominating every game, but I did better on the big points.”

After her first WTA title in three years the Romanian improved her record in finals to 2-3. Sasnovich, who had never been past the quarterfinals at a WTA event, recorded seeded victories over No. 3 Sloane Stephens and No. 2 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.