Can Radwanska Do It Again?
Agnieszka Radwanska will attempt to become just the third woman to successfully defend her Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title when play gets underway at the Dubai Tennis Stadium in just under two weeks time.
Poland’s number one lifted the trophy last year and went on to have the best season of her career so far as she went on to reach the Wimbledon final, and also win titles in Miami and Brussels, and climb to number two in the world.
Now ranked number 4, but clearly intent on reaching the top spot, Radwanska has begun the 2013 season in sensational form, winning titles in both Auckland and Sydney before marching through to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, not dropping a set in her first 13 matches of the year.
Brimming with confidence, she will be a strong favourite to become a two-time winner in Dubai, emulating Justine Henin who won back-to-back titles in 2003/4 and again in 2006/7, and Venus Williams who triumphed in 2009 and 2010.
“With so many top players bidding for the title, Agnieszka Radwanska faces a formidable hurdle as she attempts to join the exclusive group of two-time champions here,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free. “But she has proved over and over again that she can beat the best players in the world and it will fascinating to see how she fares against one of the strongest fields ever to play at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.”
Radwanska was asked during the Australian Open why she had begun the year in such invincible fashion. “I don’t know. I didn’t really change anything,” she said. “Of course, I was practicing hard in the off-season, a lot of fitness. But I’m just feeling good on court. I’m very confident from the beginning and just happy that I can play really my best tennis from the beginning of the year.”
Radwanska will face a considerable challenge though when she arrives in Dubai to face eight other members of the world’s top 10.
Top seed Victoria Azarenka proved she is also in great form this year by successfully defending her title at the Australian Open, and Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic champion Serena Williams will be anxious to follow her sister Venus onto the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Role of Honour.
Further challengers for her title include 2013 Australian Open runner-up Li Na, former world number one and 2011 Dubai winner Caroline Wozniacki, 2011 US Open champion Samantha Stosur and 2011 Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which takes place from 18th February to 2nd March, is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Following the WTA event the ATP tournament kicks off on 25 February and will feature 6 of the top ten men including world number 1 Novak Djokovic and reigning Dubai Champion Roger Federer.
Tickets for the event are on sale from the Box Office at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, Garhoud which is open from 9am to 9pm daily. Grandstand ticket prices range from 50dhs for opening rounds to 450dhs for finals, with season tickets also available.
For further information about tickets, prices and the tournament phone the call centre on +971 4 4172415.
Emirate: Dubai
Date: Feb 5, 2013
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