2011 SUMMARY
Titles Won (3): Carlsbad, Tokyo, Beijing
Best Grand Slam Result: Quarterfinalist (1): Australian Open
Win/Loss Record: 45-16
Record Against Top 10: 8-6
SEC History: First Top 8 qualification; alternate in 2008-09
After two Top 10 season finishes in 2008 and 2009, Agnieszka Radwanska had slipped out of the elite by the end of 2010. A quarterfinal showing at the Australian Open lifted her back up to No.10 but it proved to be a brief stay; she spent most of the season knocking on the door, while falling as low as No.14 at one stage.
Even so, Radwanska posted a string of characteristically solid results in the first half of the season, reaching the quarters at Dubai, Miami (where she also won her second career doubles title with Daniela Hantuchova) and Eastbourne; the semis at Stuttgart; and the round of 16 at Roland Garros. However it was in the second half of the season, on hardcourts, that one of the WTA's quiet achievers really started to make some noise.
Putting a disappointing second round loss to Petra Cetkovska at Wimbledon behind her, Radwanska reached the last eight at Stanford. The following week in Carlsbad she won her first singles title in three years, beating Vera Zvonareva in the final. Then, in Toronto, she marched to the semis, falling to Samantha Stosur in three sets.
A minor dip followed: at New Haven, Radwanska was again bested by Cetkovska, and at the US Open she was surprised by an inspired Angelique Kerber, who may have been ranked No.81 at the time but would go on to reach the semifinals.
But after a few weeks off Radwanska put together arguably the best fortnight of her career on the Asian swing. First she swept through the Premier-level Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, then she captured the Premier Mandatory China Open in Beijing - the biggest title of her career.
Rather than try to belt the cover off the ball, Radwanska relies on crafty and intelligent play - drawing comparisons to Martina Hingis. A contemporary of Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka, she was actually the first of the trio to crack the Top 10.
For a while she was overshadowed by her friends but it seems her time has come. Back at her career-high ranking of No.8, she may well find Istanbul the perfect platform for the next phase of her career.
After all, from two trips to the WTA Championships in Doha as an alternate, Radwanska built a 2-0 record after being called up to play. This time she'll be a contender from the get-go, and that experience will come in handy.
