Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska wins Eastbourne tournament

Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland won her third title of the year Saturday, beating Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-4, 6-7 (11), 6-4 in the final of the Eastbourne International Women's Open.

Radwanska, seeded fourth, joined Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova as the tour's only three-time winners in 2008. She also won in Thailand and Turkey and has four career titles. Petrova has not won a title since the Paris indoor event in February 2007.

"For sure I had some chances in the second set and she made some good shots," Radwanska said.

The eighth-seeded Russian was treated before the match for strained right calf and during the final set for an ailing left hip. Radwanska struggled with cramps in the third set.

In a match where both players struggled to hold serve, Radwanska broke three straight times to go up 4-2 in the first set. She failed to serve out the set when leading 5-3, but broke back again with a forehand winner.

Petrova broke to lead 2-1 in the second before Radwanska made it 4-4. In the tiebreaker, Radwanska missed three match points before Petrova evened the match on her fourth set point.

In the third, Radwanska broke for a 5-4 lead when Petrova made a forehand error, and then closed the match on her fifth match point.

Petrova wasn't sure why she played poorly in the final set.

"It was a very strange game at 4-4 on my serve," Petrova said. "It was two easy mistakes and I have no idea where they came from. I don't remember getting nervous or thinking ahead of the game, but maybe just the fatigue kicked in."
Source: canadianpress.google.com