Radwanska wins Connecticut Open

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut: 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 here on Saturday.

Radwanska accepted a wild card into the event because she wanted to tune up for the US Open that starts on 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 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 semi-final encounter against top seed Serena Williams. Svitolina is the 22nd seed at the US Open.