Relishing the challenge

SINGAPORE — Although a Major has proven elusive so far, Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska says she is satisfied with her performance this year.

In an interview with TODAY during yesterday’s meet-and-greet session at Pizzeria Mozza in The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands for French equipment maker Babolat, the 25-year-old Radwanska said: “I was disappointed with my performance at Wimbledon, especially because I love playing on the grass surface and I didn’t make a good result, like I did (two years ago).

“But I’m here so it means that it was a good season for me,” said Radwanska, who was a Wimbledon finalist in 2012 but exited in the fourth round this year.

Radwanska opens her BNP Paribas WTA Finals 2014 campaign tomorrow against reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the White Group, with matches against world No 2 Maria Sharapova and resurgent Dane Caroline Wozniacki to follow.

“There will be no easy matches here. Every match will be a difficult and tough one,” said the 2014 Rogers Cup winner.

“But it will be a good challenge to play (with) all of these girls in one week.”

Asked for her thoughts of the WTA Finals coming to Singapore, the Pole was clearly glad to be back.

“Singapore is a very nice place. I was here a few years back for an exhibition match and we’re staying in a beautiful hotel (Marina Bay Sands),” she said, recalling reaching the semi-final at the 2011 Singapore Women’s Tennis Exhibition.

“The view from the hotel is amazing, food is great and people are nice and helpful. It’s a really nice place to organise a championships.”

Radwanska, who is making her sixth appearance at this year’s WTA Finals, added: “Everything is good so far. Every tournament is similar with eight of us together and it’s very well-organised. I can’t complain about anything here.”

Since becoming the first Polish player to claim a WTA singles title in the 2007 at the Nordea Nordic Light Open and first from her country to reach a Grand Slam (2012 Wimbledon) singles final, the 1.72m-tall player has added 13 more singles and two WTA doubles titles to her name.

She gives credit to her father and former coach of 17 years, Robert Radwanska, for introducing her to the sport when she was four.

“In Poland, there weren’t many tennis players in the past. I owe it to my dad, my coach from the beginning, who really believed in me that I could do it,” she said.

Radwanska also took the time to criticise Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpischev for his comments last week on the Williams sisters and lauded the swift penalties imposed on the International Olympic Committee member.

“It shouldn’t be like that and this is not the way to joke about anything. I’m glad that he (Tarpischev) is going to face some consequences,” she said.

Box:

Order of play

Today

Singapore Indoor Stadium

12pm

Future Stars - U14 Final followed by Future Stars U16 Final

Future Stars Trophies Presented by Li Na

5:30pm

Legends - Marion Bartoli (France) & Martina Navratilova (USA) vs Tracy Austin (USA) & Iva Majoli (Croatia)

7pm

Opening Ceremony featuring Li Na

7:30pm

(1) Serena Williams (USA) vs (7) Ana Ivanovic (Serbia); followed by

(4) Simona Halep (Romania) vs (5) Eugenie Bouchard (Canada)

Tomorrow:

5:30 pm

Rising Stars Final (followed by Trophy Presentation)

7:30pm

(2) Maria Sharapova (Russia) vs (8) Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

(3) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) vs (6) Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland)