Looking to join Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki as a four-time victor in the tournament, Kvitova overpowered the Olympic doubles champion, breaking her four times. The Polish player broke back immediately to level the second set at 2-2.
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Agnieszka Radwanska starts the semifinal match by winning five straight games right out the gate to lead Petra Kvitova with a commanding 5-0 advantage.
The fast-starting Radwanska won the first five games of the match and then reeled off the opening four of the second set to stay in control throughout. Svitolina, however, notched the next three points, including the set point on Larsson’s unforced error. She will go into next week’s U.S. Open as the No. 4 seed. The title is Radwanska’s second this season after taking the Shenzhen Open in China in January. Hall of Famer Justine Henin is coaching her, and her game is flourishing, as evidenced by her win over Serena Williams at the Olympics.
But just when you thought Radwanska was content simply relying on defensive abilities, she would hit a big shot to put Svitolina on the defensive.
“I was really feeling good this week”, Radwanska said. “She was at her best”. Swedish qualifier Johanna Larsson pulled off an upset when she beat second-seed Roberta Vinci 7-6 (9) 6-1.
“Every time means a lot”, she said, “so I’m so happy to collect another one, especially in a tournament I have never won before. Otherwise she wouldn’t win so many titles (19), being so many years in the top 10 in the world (seven of the last eight years)”. I want to use the spin, to get a grip on the ball seeing as she’s playing so flat and low all the time.
“A great week for me”, Radwanska said.
“It is hard, but it is just enjoyable when she is near”, Bondarenko said.
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But she has never advanced past the fourth round in NY, even though her game seems well-suited for the hard courts.
