Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska continued her solid season Saturday by defeating Russia’s Nadia Petrova in the final at the International Women’s Open.
The 19-year-old Radwanska, the fourth-seed here, posted a 6-4, 6-7 (9-11), 6-4 victory over the eighth-seeded Petrova to claim her third title of the year and fourth overall. Radwanska needed 2 hours and 37 minutes to hold off Petrova and claim the first prize of $95,500 at the Tier II grasscourt event.
Radwanska won last month in Istanbul as the No. 2 seed, defeating defending champion Elena Dementieva in the final. She also captured the title at Pattaya City in February and has climbed into the top 20 in the world rankings. The only other players with three titles this year are Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.
“I am very happy after today,” Radwanska said. “This is my best result on the tour so far. I have had a good run this year, and I am slowly making my way up to the rankings. First, my goal was Top 30, then Top 20, and now I am aiming at top 10, but I just had a good week and I am very happy to win my first Tier II.”
Radwanska advanced to her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open, upsetting Russian seeds Svetlana Kuznetsova in the third round and Petrova in the fourth round. She then reached the fourth round at the French Open in the year’s second Grand Slam.
