WHAT HAPPENED: Tour veteran Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland used her bevy of shots to routinely beat 19-year-old Katerina Siniakova , 6-2, 6-3, in their first-round match.
Radwanska, playing in her 10th US Open, used slices from both sides, drop shots, a heavy forehand approach shot and efficient serving to dispense of Siniakova, who was playing in her first US Open main-draw match. Radwanska, the No. 15 seed this year, broke Siniakova, who’s ranked No. 69, twice in the first set to cruise to the 6-2 opener. The Czech teen, though, looked to be settling in early in the second set. She broke Radwanska to start the set, but was then broken by Radwanska. Radwanska handled the remainder of the set with ease, closing out the match with an ace.
For much of the match, Radwanska, 26, retrieved and kept putting balls back in play against Siniakova, who frequently hit her backhand long and went for too much on her forehand side. Having to hit extra shot after extra shot clearly frustrated Siniakova, as well. After Radwanska broke her early in the second set, Siniakova slammed a ball into the back of the court.
WHAT IT MEANS: Radwanska starts the year’s final major tournament well. She is seeking a late-season surge. She’s had success on the grass at Wimbledon, reaching the final there in 2012 and making the semifinals three times. But never has Radwanska enjoyed a similar run on the hard courts at the US Open. Four times she has reached the fourth round here, but she’s never advanced past that stage.
Radwanska faces a tough path this year. If she wins her next match, she could face big-hitting American Madison Keys in the third round. In the fourth round, another aggressive American full of confidence will likely await Radwanska: Serena Williams.
THE QUESTION: Is this the year Radwanska advances beyond the fourth round?
