By Ros Satar, in Stuttgart
- Laura Siegemund [Q] def. Agnieszka Radwanska [1] 6-4 6-2
- Faces defending champion Angelique Kerber in Sunday’s final
STUTTGART, GERMANY – Qualifier Laura Siegemund stunned top seed Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets to become the first qualifier to reach the Stuttgart final.
Just as in her other matches (and quite rightly too), Siegemund came to play, every point greeted with rapturous applause, the German continued her brand of aggressive tennis, looking for areas to move Radwanska around, the pair delivering cuts and thrusts, coming forward.
Radwanska claimed the first blow, but there was no need to even look up at the score-board as the stadium erupted as the German broke straight back to get things back on serve early. The German was being lifted by the crowd as it was her turn to nudge ahead a break, making devastating use of a deadly sliced serve, as she came out confidently to serve out for the first set, with not even a flicker of nerves.
It wasn’t the first time this tournament that Radwanska had lost a set, being floored by Petkovic in her opener, 1-6. This at least was a touch more competitive this time. Radwanska’s perfect placements that would flummox most people were being returned with interest as she struck first at the start of the second set, breaking for the lead.
Radwanska was beginning to look all at sea, as Siegemund chipped away for a double break cushion. Out of nowhere she picked off one of the breaks to love, but any thoughts of a miracle come back were being quelled pretty rapidly as Siegemund moved within a service game of her first WTA final.
If you’re going to serve yourself into your first final, and a WTA Premier to boot, you may as well do it to love, as she once more left Radwanska looking positively pedestrian.
The Pole had to admit it just had not been her day, in her post-match press conference.
“I definitely didn’t serve good enough, that’s for sure today. I think that kind of game that she’s playing, the first shot is very important so she was pretty much playing all in and every time she get the ball, I think she really had nothing to lose. She took the risk pretty much the whole time.”
After an offer to buy a cheesecake (her favourite dessert) to help alleviate the loss, she replied at least with a laugh:
“At the moment I take everything [laughter] so your choice.”
Meanwhile Siegemund seems still able to take this in her stride. She has stuck to her game plan and taken in the moments, knowing that she has the confidence to carry her into the final.
“I’m really happy about this journey. Who knows if it’s going to be a turning point in my late career. I don’t know. I really don’t care that much. I try to enjoy the moment.
“Who knows if I’m going to be in a final again. Who knows what happens. I just try to be in the moment, enjoy it, do my best tomorrow and I think it’s all a matter of attitude and work, if I’m going to be back in another final or not.”
The final will take place on Sunday at 1:30pm (12:30pm BST)
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