Radwanska Defeats Sharapova in Sony Ericsson Open Finals
April 2, 2012 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Maria Sharapova 7-5, 6-4 to capture the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open title. Sharapova held her head high when shaking hands although slumping her shoulders in disappointment. She lost serve in the final game of each set and fell short yet again of a title from Key Biscayne. Sharapova is now the runner-up in four Sony Ericsson Open finals. Radwanska improves her career titles mark to nine and this is her fourth since the summer.
“It’s always tough, because you do a really good job to get there,” Sharapova said. “It’s obviously always the toughest round.” Sharapova has not won a tournament since August 2011.
Radwanska gave credit to her father and coach, Robert, who flew home prior to the match rather than exchanging his plane ticket to stay for the finals.
“He said, ‘You’re playing well. So you know what you have to do, and just text me after the game,’ ” said Radwanska with a smile.
Sharapova blew a overhead shot to lose the first set. Radwanska also beat Venus Williams in the route to the finals and won every set she played thereafter.
“I’m playing against a really good player, second in the world right now,” Radwanska said. “I had pretty much nothing to lose. It’s just a great feeling to beat those kind of players, especially in the final playing great tennis.”
