It’s final time at the Sydney International, and what better way to prepare for the viewing excitement that is the Australian Open than sitting back, relaxing, and watching Johanna Konta and Agnieszka Radwanska battle for Sydney’s crown! Join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 6:30pm AEDT.
Sydney-born Englishwoman Johanna Konta has enjoyed plenty of success down under, kick-starting her career in last year’s open by reaching the semi-finals.
And her Sydney International campaign so far has set her up perfectly for another sustained run at a maiden Grand Slam title, dispatching an in-form Eugenie Bouchard in a straight-sets rout to reach the last two.
Before that, she also knocked over Australians Arina Rodionova and Daria Gavrilova, her Gavrilova triumph particularly impressive as she wiped the current world No.25 off the court with apparent ease.
Her opponent, 27-year old Pole Radwanska, is one of the most successful women’s players in recent history without a Grand Slam title to her name. Despite an impressive 20 WTA titles under her belt, the world No.3’s only Grand Slam final to date occurred at Wimbledon in 2012.
She’s no doubt an impressive player, with a wide array of shots at her disposal and robot-like levels of accuracy and consistency, but up against the big names of the world tennis scene, she can tend to be bullied, with her 6-0, 6-4 defeat to Serena Williams at the 2016 Australian Open a perfect example.
It’s the build-up tournaments where Radwanska dominates the tennis scene, and like her British opponent, she hasn’t dropped a set en route to the decider, and only 15 games in her three lead-up matches. And she’s played some spectacular tennis along the way, too.
Prediction
Radwanska is the higher seed and bigger name, and knocked over Konta in straight sets the last time they played, the final of the China Open. But Konta brings out her best in the land down under, and with a (sort of) home crowd behind her back, she should emerge triumphant in a close one.
Konta in 3 sets.
With the Australian Open just 3 days away, both women will relish one last opportunity to test out new strategies, iron out minor kinks and, most importantly, get some more competitive tennis under their belts before a tournament in which they are both expected to perform well.
Can the Aussie-cum-Pommie celebrate her return to her hometown Sydney with a second WTA title? Or will it be the more highly fancied Eastern European who takes the points?
Join in with me here on The Roar from 6:30pm AEDT for live scores, coverage and analysis, and don’t forget to leave your own thoughts in the comments section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Insane performance from Konta. Did not expect that to be straight sets.
Tim Miller
Editor
That's all from me tonight. I'll be back for the men's final tomorrow, where Gilles Muller will take on the winner of tonight's clash between Andrey Kuznetsov and Daniel Evans. Tonight's women's final was certainly shorter than I expected, but no less spectacular for that. A second WTA title for Konta in the town where she was born (Sydney), and a gosh-darn-it-all impressive one at that. Be sure to have a look at Suneer's blog of the ODI between Australian and Pakistan on your way out, if cricket's your sort of thing. If not, well, thanks for tuning in, and let's hope next week's Aussie Open is just as good!
Tim Miller
Editor
Johanna Konta claims the Sydney International with a 6-4 6-2 win over Agnieszka Radwanska. And it was a performance that can only be defined as emphatic. Radwanska actually came out the stronger of the two, winning the first six points of the match. But from there, it was all Konta, as she ruffled her more experienced and highly regarded opponent with pure, raw power. She just kept hammering forehand after forehand right to the baseline, and when Radwanska looked to aim at her backhand earlier, well, she just put those away, too. She had Radwanska on the hop all night, and the highly decorated Pole simply had no answers. Every time Radwanska served, the pressure was right on, while the closest she came to threatening Konta's serve came as the Englishwoman began to show a few nerves in the final game. And the scariest thing was, Radwanska didn't play too badly. There were no glaring unforced errors, no lapses in judgement, no injuries. Konta simply wiped her off the court. And with the Australian Open just 3 days away, I'm sure that performance will send a shiver up the spine of all her top-10 rivals.
Tim Miller
Editor
AND SHE GETS IT WITH AN ACE! Another sublime serve from the Englishwoman, a wide serve right on the outside line that Radwanska can only watch go by! Radwanska 4 2 Konta 6 6
Tim Miller
Editor
An embodiment of the night if ever there was one. A deep powerful first serve sets the tone, and after a glorious wide forehand that Radwanska stretches to lob back but sends wide, she has match point. AD-40
Tim Miller
Editor
Probably the first poor shot of the night from Konta, and right at the death! Pins Radwanska on the baseline, but rather than looking to end with a crunching forehand, goes for a drop shot that doesn't clear the net! 40-40
Tim Miller
Editor
One point away now, as she goes wide and deep on the first serve and Radwanska can only net her return. 40-30
Tim Miller
Editor
For the first time in a long while, Konta under pressure on her serve at 15-30. But she immediately rectifies that with a swinging ace down the T. 30-30
Tim Miller
Editor
Finally Radwanska brings out some of her best tennis! Konta receives a drop shot that she gets to comfortably, but with the spin and dip Aga's put on that ball, she can only send her return wide! 15-15
Tim Miller
Editor
And she starts perfectly, with a perfectly placed serve down the T that Radwanska can only lob well long. 15-0
Tim Miller
Editor
If she can serve this out, it will be Konta's second ever WTA title. Just an FYI, in case you were curious.
Tim Miller
Editor
And she holds with a wide serve that Konta can only send wide! Radwanska keeps herself just alive, but Konta now has 2 chances to serve for the title. And the way she's served tonight, I doubt she'll need the second. Radwanska 4 2 Konta 6 5
Tim Miller
Editor
Radwanska nails an ace to move closer to a second straight hold, but then on the next point keeps Konta in the hunt for a third break of serve this set as she nets a backhand down the line. 40-30
Tim Miller
Editor
How good is that? Not a bad second serve from Radwanska, wide and swinging away, but Konta hammers her return forehand spectacularly. Kisses the back corner. Shot of the night. 30-15
Tim Miller
Editor
Finally, Radwanska getting some cheap points on her serve. An ace followed by an excellent wide serve that Konta can only return wide. You feel it's too little, too late, however. 30-0
Tim Miller
Editor
The end looks nigh here for Radwanska as another delightful serve from Konta sails by. Radwanska 4 1 Konta 6 5
Tim Miller
Editor
Late call of out from the chair umpire on the first serve, and it precedes some pretty exceptional tennis! Both women looking to put every ball right on the lines, and eventually it's Konta who forces the lob. Comes up to the net but Radwanska anticipates the smash and looks to lob, but it lands just long. 40-15
Tim Miller
Editor
How good has Konta's serving been tonight? This time a delightful ace down the T that not even Radwanska can get close to. 30-15
Tim Miller
Editor
Radwanska again looks to go deep with her shots, but this time her forehand sails just long of the baseline. 15-15
Tim Miller
Editor
Radwanska plays a very Konta-esque point as she slams a backhand return right to the baseline, and Konta can only half-volley it right into the top of the net. 0-15