Agnieszka Radwanska has reached a grand slam final before but can she hide her demons away to go one step further in 2017?
Radwanska has always been one of the most craftiest players the game has been ever seen. She has won 20 WTA titles and has reached a career high of number two in the world. She has even won the WTA finals trophy, the ‘fifth slam’. However the one trophy that has eluded the pole is a major trophy. So why has Radwanska not been able to win a grand slam yet?
The answer is that she is missing that killer instinct in the latter stages. Winning seven matches within a two week period is a difficult achievement. You have to be physically and mentally at your best, you have to know when to preserve energy and when to really delve into your reserves. You also have to know how to deal with pressure, when the heat is on. For Radwanska, whenever she is on the verge of making that big step forward, she is either lacking a mental or physical edge or cannot deal with the pressure of being the favourite in that tournament.
Her first and only grand slam final was in 2012, when she lost a thrilling final to Serena Williams at Wimbledon. That was when we saw Radwanska was capable and had the potential to become Poland’s first ever singles grand slam champion. A year later she reached the semifinals at The All England Club and was the favourite for the title. However pressure started to tell on Aga and was defeated by Germany’s Sabine Lisicki 6-4 2-6 9-7.
At the Australian Open in 2014, Agnieszka Radwanska was the favourite again, when the tournament reached the last four players. Eugenie Bouchard, Li Na and Dominika Cibulkova were all behind Radwanska in who was expected to win the tournament. However the pressure and lack of mental fortitude lead to her downfall as she was eliminated by Dominika Cibulkova. Another reason why these ‘shock losses’ happen at major tournaments to Radwanska is also down to her physical state. She has struggled with shoulder and knee injuries at key moments in her grand slam campaigns which has affected her in the second week at a grand slam, when she needs to be at her very best.
Analysis
In my view. I think Radwanska can still win a grand slam. However it is going to be more difficult than ever before as players like Angelique Kerber are upping there game to new gears. Serena Williams is still playing the best at Wimbledon. Also players like Dominika Cibulkova and Garbiñe Muguruza are dangerous with their ferocious games allowing them to beat anyone on the world stage. Radwanska’ defensive game has progressed and it has been easier for her to counteract the power games of her opponents. If she can just overcome her demons of pressure, then she can win a grand slam in 2017.
