Aga Radwanska: It doesn't matter how you start, it matters how you finish (Part 2)

This week,I started the review of Aga's 2015. A year that didn't start good but it ended unbelievably well! This quote of Aga after winning the WTA Finals in Singapore can pretty much describe all the 2015. This is the 2nd part of the article,Aga's second part of the year-after the grass court season!

The US summer,mediocre appearances continue...

Aga was supposed to return in a good fashion during the US Open series,something that never happened. Aga failing to defend the Rogers Cup points lost her top 10 ranking once again,while she still remained without a title in 2015. However, she had little unexpected losses(1st round in Cincinnati,3rd in the US Open) and her loses came to top players each time. That was a progress. Aga's game was starting to work better which was evident in her match against Angie Kerber in Stanford,one of the best matches of the year quality wise. Mentally there wasn't that much progress. Aga lost after bageling Simona Halep in the 1st set in the Toronto QFs (a golden chance to win a title there) while her match against Schmiedlova in the 1st round of Cincinnati was not a good example as well. I was not happy for Aga's US swing! So many opportunities wasted,so much vulturing getting useless. She would have to give it all in the Asian Swing for the two prerequisites for a season for me,a title and a place in the WTA Finals.


Asia:This is my home!

Aga had an unbelievable Asian swing,winning 2 WTA Titles and finding herself in the end in Singapore,where a very pleasant surprise came to give different air to this bad season. She began her Asian campaign in Tokyo,one of her favourite tournaments where after an amazing week,full of emotions, she lifted her first title of 2015. This was Aga's best tennis in 2015 so far. Flawless with perfect balance between defence and offence she would beat Coco Vandewedge,Elina Svitolina,Karolina Pliskova,Dominica Cibulkova and Belinda Bencic without losing a set en route to her 2nd title in the country of the rising sun.This meant that my first goal for her season had been accomplished,to win a WTA title. She went then to lose early in Wuhan,victim of her bad draw(against eventual champion Venus Williams) and her fatigue(played one day after returning from Tokyo). Then,she had a good week in the SFs of Beijing which however was not followed by her best play,even though she snatched her first top 10 match win against Kerber in the QFs. The SF match against Garbine was really painful to watch for a fan. Aga won the first set,but she did not keep up the good work in the 2nd while she started the 3rd as bad as usually.Aga then would find the inspiration she had in the first set to bounce back and return the set to 4-5 on her serve. Unfortunately,she was not able to hold,even though she had a game point. This match was really bad in the mental part. Aga did not have her head clear throughout the match and she did not exploit Garbine's weaknesses which were evident throughout all the match. Aga had been confirmed then for Tianjin and Moscow. If she would win in Tianjin she'd qualify for the WTA Finals. The field in Tianjin was really weak especially after Bencic's withdrawal and Pennetta's 1st round exit. The only players who could probably challenge her where Kiki Mladenovic and Karolina Pliskova. The road was open. Personally,I would have been really unhappy if she had lost a match that week,but fortunately she did not and with really good tennis on display she would go on to win her 2nd title of 2015. I remember me this week being afraid to watch her matches because I would jinx her,though with the help of my twitter friends I took the courage to watch her SF and Final matches and it was really rewarding as Aga played amazing. So, after securing her spot in the Elite 8,Aga would omit Moscow,logically assumed, to prepare for Singapore.

The Singapore tale

I still can not believe what happened in Singapore. I was sure that Aga will go there to get trashed in all her round robin matches but she ended up LIFTING the Billie Jean King Trophy to bring joy to every Aga fan around the world.Aga began her Singapore campaign in the red group against Maria,Simona and Flavia. Her first match was against Maria Sharapova. Maria had to play a full match since Wimbledon and had been struggling with injuries lately so this was an open chance. However,Aga could not take advantage of it. Their match was a lot alike the Beijing SF,Aga played a perfect 1st set then she run out of steam to lose the second and get back in the 3rd,with a late revival not being enough. Two days later,Aga would lose to US Open champion Flavia Pennetta in straight sets to put her in the last place of the Red Group. There was only one mathematical scenario Aga could qualify. She would have to win Simona in 2 and Maria to win Flavia in 2.And this happened...Aga found herself two points away from getting eliminated by the competition but she turned back in the first set tie-break against Simona to seal the win! Maria's win over Flavia later would send her to the semis(THANK YOU MARIA!!!). Aga will then have to play against Garbine Muguruza, a player that have gone 3-0 in her group and had already caused a LOT of trouble to Aga in 2015. Aga had met Garbi 4 times in 2015 and had lost all of them failing to read the Spaniards powerful game. However,this time was Aga's chance. Garbine had one day less to rest while she has been playing doubles all week. The Pole played an amazing match while her opponent had moments of brilliance but in general was rusty. She eventually scored one of the best and most emotional wins of the year with 6-7 6-3 7-5 to reach her first WTA Finals Final!

In the Final she got to face Petra Kvitova. Aga was playing sailing in the start not giving away ANYTHING while Petra had probably not realised the importance of the match yet. After getting down 2-6 0-2 Petra woke up. Despite the fact that Aga did not make a single Unforced Error in the whole second set Petra managed to win it 6-4 and to lead 2-0 in the 3rd . That's a hint of how great is Peak Petra.From then, Aga started playing more like the first set putting on some risk,while Petra slowed down. In the end, the Czech would gift Aga the WTA Finals title with a powerful forehand of hers hitting the net. Aga's reaction and all of her fandoms twitter reaction was something more than touching. Others, including Aga were crying,others including me were souting like crazy. It was incredible. Aga was the WTA Finals Champion. Aga lifted the Billie Jean King Trophy. WHO WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT AFTER SUCH A YEAR AGA WOULD WIN HER BIGGEST TITLE EVER?NONE! I was so glad to be an Aga fan after this win,especially after what I felt in spring.The French Open I have lost hope but this brought it back to me! I finally had something to make me happy when Aga would retire! A photo that I would watch and take courage! Thank you Aga,my beloved queen!

My insta message after Aga's Singapore win:

"17th WTA Title-the WTA Finals!!!!🙌🙌🙌🙌💪💪💪 Your 1st Major Title(GS,YEC)!!!! Im so proud for being a fan of this girl the last 3 years and 2 months. After the 2013 Wimbledon and that SF loss I thought that you will never win something big,I gave up every hope but this brought me back.After your 1r loss in the French I sat in my bed and almost burst into tears,I thought everything was over.In the next couple of months I saw you returning back to the good old form.You made it to Singapore.I quarrelled with numerous tennis fans on twitter about you.On Tuesday you went 0-2 in the RR.There was only 1 mathematical scenario that you could get in the semis,beating Simona in 2 and Masha to beat Flavia in 2.And this happened and after two amazing wins over Muguruza and Kvitova you are here,holding the Billie Jean King trophy.Shutting up all the haters mouths and bringing life to all of us your numberous fans. Thank you so much for all the amazing emotion my queen!!Lets hope 2016 will be that great!!! I will miss you on court for the next 2 months but I will be watching this photo to take courage. Thanks again...💜💜💜"

Thanks everyone for reading this article. I wish you Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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