By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, October 29, 2016
Superior match management skills helped Angelique Kerber rise to the world No. 1 ranking.
Facing one of the shrewdest players in the sport, the cagey Kerber constructed points as if working from a blue print writing Agnieszka Radwanska right out of Singapore.
Watch: Cibulkova Conquers Kuznetsova To Reach Final
The top-seeded Kerber crushed defending champion Radwanska, 6-2, 6-1, rolling into the WTA Finals championship match for the first time.
"I was really trying to be focused on every single point because I know to play against Aga is very tough and we had so many tough battles in the past," Kerber told Andrew Krasny. "It's just amazing to be in the finals in Singapore."
Kerber opened the Grand Slam season stunning Serena Williams to capture her first major championship at the Australian Open. The 28-year-old German will close the best season of her career facing Dominika Cibulkova in tomorrow's title match.
The WTA Finals debutante fought past eighth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, to advance to her first Singapore final.
The final is a rematch of the round-robin opener when Kerber reeled off five of the last six games squeezing out a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-3 victory over Cibulkova six days ago. Kerber has beaten Cibulkova five times in a row and holds a 5-4 edge in their head-to-head series.
"I think it will be a good match," Kerber said. "We are both in the finals. I think I have to play one of my best tennis (matches) to beat her again. I know I have to play my game. I will just try to enjoy the final and try to win the match tomorrow."
Playing for her eighth final of the season today, Kerber dispensed an hour of misery to Radwanska. The pair share a Polish heritage, have shared the court as practice partners and even vacationed together in the past.
A sharp Kerber showed no benevolence to her friend and rival. She converted seven of 13 break-point chances ravaging Radwanska's serve and hooked her lefty forehand crosscourt to batter her opponent's backhand.
Three straight breaks opened the match before Kerber stamped the first hold for 3-1.
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The top seed held another break point for a potential 4-1 lead, but put a routine forehand return into the middle of the net.
All-court creativity, soft hands and superior net skills are advantages Radwanska has over Kerber. She knocked off a forehand volley sealing her first hold for 2-3 after 27 minutes. Radwanska won 15 of 25 trips to net, but couldn't deliver front-court magic when she needed it most.
Energy and efficiency were two keys to the match: Kerber came out playing with more vigor and forced a lethargic Radwanska to try to press the issue moving forward.
Kerber curled a dipping forehand pass by the net-rushing Radwanska holding at 30 for 4-2.
Turning her hips and shoulders into her twisting topspin crosscourt forehand, Kerber broke again in the seventh game. Kerber reeled off six of the last seven points sealing the 39-minute opening set despite serving just 43 percent.
Seeking a fresh start in the second set, a rattled Radwanska found more frustration instead. She sailed a backhand beyond the baseline dropping serve to open the second set. Radwanska broke right back to level.
Unrelenting court coverage makes Kerber a maddening opponent. On the full stretch, the German poked a perfect defensive lob for another break point. Dashing to her left, Kerber hooked a churning crosscourt forehand coaxing the error to earn her fifth break 58 minutes into the match.
Typically, Radwanska plays points with precious care and is one of the most accurate ball strikers in the sport. But she lacked the legs and range to trouble Kerber too much.
A listless Radwanska slapped a forehand into net then sailed a backhand long gifting another break and complete command to Kerber, who invoked a 4-1 lead.
Looking dazed by the cumulative blows from the counter-punching Kerber, Radwanska netted her 28th error ending a one-sided 75-minute match.
The season-ending event had been a dead end for Kerber in the past: She managed just two career victories in three prior trips to the season-ending event. Tomorrow, she plays for the title and to wrap a ribbon around a spectacular season in which she won both the Australian Open and US Open title and became the oldest woman to debut as world No. 1.
"It's been an incredible 12 months," Kerber said. "I remember when I was here 12 months ago I was just winning one match and now I'm here being in the finals is just incredible. I was really working on being focused and calm and I think this is the biggest improvement I made in the last 12 months."