Hitting-Wall Radwanska Beats Kvitova for 1st WTA Finals Crown

The diminutive Agnieszka Radwanska raised the BNP Paribas WTA Finals title in Singapore on Sunday, defeating Petra Kvitova 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 for the biggest championship win of her career.
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How big of an underdog win was it for the former world No. 2?

Radwanska was one of the final qualifiers for the WTA Finals, and lost her first two matches in round robin play against Maria Sharapova and Flavia Pennetta.

After the 0-2 start she rallied with a round robin win over Simona Halep, then in the semifinals outlasted Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza, turning around an 0-4 record against the Spaniard.

In the final Kvitova went up 2-0 in the third set but could not put away the Pole, who had more than nine lives during the week.

“A few weeks ago I didn’t even know I’d have a chance to be here, and there you go,” said an emotional Radwanska during her on-court interview. It’s just an incredible day for me. It means everything. It couldn’t be any better. I think that was the biggest day in my life.”

While Kvitova piled up 53 unforced errors to 41 winners, Radwanska’s play was sublime, committing just five unforced errors over three sets while striking 15 winners.

“The serve wasn’t a huge weapon today, there were lots of ups and downs and lots of breaks,” Radwanska said. “But in the important moments I was really doing the right things, I think. Of course I had my chances in the second set, but it doesn’t matter how I won. I’m extremely happy about this.”

It is the 17th career title for Radwanska, whose former biggest wins were 2012 Miami and 2011 Beijing. She reached the Wimbledon final in 2012, losing to Serena Williams who withdrew from this year’s WTA Finals citing injuries.