Radwanska beats Konta to take China Open title
BEIJING: Agnieszka Radwanska beat Johanna Konta in straight sets to take the title at the China Open on Sunday, her third crown of the season.
The third-ranked Pole -- who cruised through the tournament without dropping a set -- sealed her second title in Beijing with an ace for a 6-4, 6-2 win.
The victory is Radwanska’s 20th career title and second in Beijing.
But there was more on the line for Konta, 25, who was making a bid for her second -and biggest -- career title in the Chinese capital.
Despite the loss, by reaching the final Konta has amassed enough points to break into the top 10 -- the first British woman to do so since Jo Durie in 1984.
When the new leaderboards are released Monday it will be the first time since computerised rankings were introduced that a British man (Andy Murray) and woman are ranked in the top 10 at the same time.
Konta claimed two top 10 scalps en route to the final, sixthranked Karoline Pliskova and number eight Madison Keys, but she was kept on the defensive on Sunday.
After dropping her serve twice in each set, Konta tried to even the scoreline in the second, pushing Radwanska to two break points in the sixth game.
But the Pole -- nicknamed the Magician for her ability to conjure up shots -- shot a forehand down the line to save her service game.
Konta held the next with a forehand dropshot that Radwanska redirected wide.
But the world number three then served for the title, firing her only ace of the match straight down the line for her third Premier Mandatory title, one rung down from a Grand Slam.
It was the second time the pair have met after Radwanska beat the Briton in a two-hour, three-set battle in Cincinnati in August.
They will likely meet again in Singapore at the end of the month for the WTA Finals.
Radwanska has already qualified for the eight-player season finale, which follows a roundrobin format, while the Briton is still chasing points to guarantee her maiden appearance at the elite event.
Konta is currently in eighth position but could be nudged out by Wuhan Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova, who is just 10 points behind her in the so-called Race to Singapore.
The Briton is playing in Hong Kong next week, hoping to rack up enough qualification points.
KYRGIOS BEATS GOFFIN TO TAKE JAPAN OPEN
TOKYO: Australian power-hitter Nick Kyrgios fired an incredible 25 aces Sunday to win the Japan Open, pounding Belgium’s David Goffin 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Kyrgios rocketed serves clocking in at more than 220 kilometres (136 miles) per hour in quick succession, giving Goffin little time to regain his rhythm.
Goffin used his quick footwork and long rallies to put pressure on his opponent, but Kyrgios’ fearsome serves in the end overwhelmed the world’s number 14. The Australian, ranked 15 in the world, also showed off some sharp ground strokes and saved 11 of 12 break points to lift the trophy in two hours.
“I think my serves are what got me out of trouble,” Kyrgios said. “David makes you feel like the court is small. It was a tough match.”
Goffin managed to take the upper hand early in the match by hitting deep, angled returns to make his opponent run while winning long rallies with some clever footwork.
But Kyrgios fired off superb serves from the start, escalating his big-serve offensives in the second set, landing 11 aces, followed by 10 more in the third. He also took risks to blast out sizzling shots even after faulting on first serves.
“His (Goffin’s) strength was returning. So I had to step up my serves a little bit especially in the second set,” Kyrgios said, adding that he also managed to improve his returns as the match progressed.
Goffin said he attempted to play rallies and wait for Kyrgios to make mistakes, but faced an unending shower of cannon-like serves.
“In the first set, he was not serving like he did in the second and third. I was on the ball in the first set,” Goffin said.
“I think, during the match, he had to serve well because I was doing rallies better,” he said.
“He served 215 (kilometres per hour) on the line with a lot of precision. Even if you choose the right side, it’s tough to return,” Goffin added.
Kyrgios grabbed his third trophy of the season, after many of his big-name rivals pulled out of the Tokyo tournament due to injuries.
Defending champion and US Open winner Stan Wawrinka withdrew from the event due to back trouble, while home favourite Kei Nishikori, winner in 2014 and 2012, was unable to finish his second-round match Wednesday because of muscle strain.
Injuries also forced Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, Japan Open winner in 2013, to skip the tournament after receiving an invitation as a wildcard.