NEW YORK — Top seed Agnieszka Radwanska declared it mission accomplished after clinching a 6-1, 7-6(1) victory over Elina Svitolina in the final of the Connecticut Open in New Haven Saturday.
Radwanska accepted a wild card into the event because she wanted to tune up for the US Open that starts Monday and the 27-year-old Pole will head to Flushing Meadows brimming with confidence after collecting her 19th career WTA title.
“Thank you so much... for giving me that wild card,” Radwanska laughed during her winner’s speech. “I definitely appreciate it and I’ll be back next year for sure.”
Radwanska reached the final by knocking off three-time Connecticut Open champion Petra Kvitova 6-1, 6-1 in a one-side match.
Radwanska rattled through the first set in less than 30 minutes as the 21-year-old Svitolina struggled on serve.
The Ukrainian 10th seed raised her game in the second with some powerful, precise groundstrokes and had three set points to level the match but was unable to convert, before being overrun in the tiebreak.
Radwanska, the fourth seed at the US Open, faces American Jessica Pegula in the first round at Flushing Meadows, with a potential semifinal encounter against top seed Serena Williams.
Svitolina is the 22nd seed at the US Open.
Carreno Busta bags title
Pablo Carreno Busta recorded his first ATP title triumph by beating fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the final of the Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina Saturday.
Carreno Busta, 25, won 6-7 (6), 7-6 (1), 6-4 in a match that lasted more than two hours 30 minutes.
In a confidence-boosting performance heading into the US Open that starts Monday, the world No. 47 clinched victory in style with an ace.
The 16th seed had previously lost two finals this year and could have been excused for dropping his head after losing the first set in a tiebreak when second seed Bautista Agut sent a backhand winner down the line.
There was not a single break point in the first set but both players broke in the second before Carreno Busta levelled the match by dominating the tiebreak, helped by two double faults by his opponent.
Carreno Busta needed only one break point in the final set to set up the win.
A reward for both finalists was a ride in the same private jet to New York Saturday night.
After losing to a countryman Saturday, Bautista Agut faces another Spaniard in the first round at Flushing Meadows in the form of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
Top French players
suspended over
behavior at Olympics
The French Tennis Federation Sunday slapped a ban on the country’s top women players following ‘unacceptable’ conduct at the Rio Olympics.
If the temporary ban is upheld Caroline Garcia, the French No. 1, and Kristina Mladenovic, the No. 2, will miss the final of the Fed Cup against the Czech Republic in November.
The conduct of the women as well as male teammate Benoit Paire was “unacceptable and merits an appropriate response,” the federation said, announcing that a final decision will be released on Sept. 24.
In the interim the two women, the reigning French Open doubles champions, as well as Paire, will forfeit financial aid and selection to represent their country.
Mladenovic is accused of publicly criticizing the federation following her defeat in the Olympic doubles tournament in which she teamed up with Garcia.
Paire was kicked out of the French Olympic team by national coach Arnaud Di Pasquale over allegations of poor conduct in Rio including lengthy absences from the Olympic village. — Agencies
