Nadia Petrova and Agnieszka Radwanska played for the first big title after the US Open.
The Setting
It wasn’t until she hit the grass before Wimbledon that Nadia Petrova reached her first final of the year, capturing the title in s’Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. From there, the Russian posted some solid results over the rest of the summer.
Seeded 17th due to Maria Kirilenko’s withdrawal, Petrova advanced to the Tokyo final, defeating Sara Errani and Samantha Stosur—both members of the top 10—in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
On the top half of the draw, defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska continued her winning ways, advancing to the title match without the loss of a set. It was her first final since her Grand Slam breakthrough at that year’s Wimbledon.
The Final
Contesting her first Premier final in six years, Petrova showed no signs of nerves early on. She broke Radwanska in the first game and cruised from there, capturing the set 6-0.
In the first game of the second set, Petrova kept the pressure on Radwanska, earning four break points. Radwanska fended them off and turned the tables on Petrova, breaking her to take a 2-0 lead. Radwanska surged through the second set, taking it 6-1, to level the match.
The break-fest between the two players came to a halt in the third set as they each held serve comfortably through the first six games. Petrova struck first, breaking to take a 5-3 lead. She then served out the match to take the biggest title of her career.
Notable Numbers
2008
The last time Petrova won two or more titles in a season was in 2008. She failed to reach a final in 2009, and only made one in 2010.
9
Of her 14 championship match appearances, this was the ninth time Radwanska faced a Russian in a final. The loss in Tokyo to Petrova dropped her record in those matches to 6-3.
2
This was the second time in 2012 that Petrova defeated a Radwanska in a final: In June, she beat Agnieszka’s younger sister Urszula on grass in Rosmalen.
1
In her first championship match since Wimbledon, this was the second consecutive final Radwanska lost, marking the only time she had lost two finals in a row in one year at this point in her career.
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