World No. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska, who took down Caroline Garcia in the second round of the French Open, is getting more comfortable on clay courts.
A year ago Radwanska was still sliding, and she lost in the first round of the French Open to Annika Beck. Then ranked No. 14, Radwanska was very upset because she hadn't beaten any players in the Top 15 that season.
“I can't really do what I want on court, and it's not really working,” she said at the time. “That makes me nervous and angry. Maybe [I’m] getting older.”
Right after that disappointing defeat, though, the now 27-year-old began to play much better on grass, reaching the final in Eastbourne and the semis of Wimbledon.
Radwanska surged again at the end of the season and won the WTA Finals. So far in 2015, the Pole has reached the semis of the Australian Open and the tournament in Indian Wells.
"I feel fresh and rested,” Radwanska told reporters after her win in Paris. “I withdrew from a couple of tournaments ... That's what you have to do sometimes to be fresh and healthy.”
She was upset by Dominika Cibulkova in the first round of the clay tournament in Madrid, but she feels that she can be more consistent on the surface.
"I think I'm not really thinking about expectations or [the] second week," Radwanska said. "I think [I’m] taking [it] match by match, and I'm just very happy to be in the third round ... Of course, now, it's not going to be easier. I'm healthy, in one piece, and I'm just ready for the next one."
Garcia, who was 1-1 against Radwanska going into the encounter, was very nervous about the match.
"I'm very sorry," the world No. 40 said. "I'm very sorry that I couldn't really play the way I would like to have played. I was able to play a few balls, but most of the match I just wasn't there ... I wasn't able to hit the ball. I wanted to hit it, and, well, just not the right game. I can play better. But it was a wonderful moment. It was very emotional.”