Wimbledon: Agnieszka Radwanska made to work

AGNIESZKA Radwanska kept the bookmakers happy by justifying her seeding to beat Tsvetana Pironkova 4-6 6-3 6-3 yesterday and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

The Polish fourth seed proved too strong for her 76th-ranked Bulgarian opponent and last year’s runner-up is the highest ranked woman in the last eight.

But she made hard work of it. Shortly after top seed Serena Williams tumbled out to Sabine Lisicki on Centre Court, Radwanska conceded the first set to a fired-up Pironkova and everything pointed to another seedexiting early. Radwanska, 24, looked listless and ill-at-ease on Court Two. Her serve lacked rhythm and she dropped it twice before getting a toe-hold in the set.

Admonishing herself for uncharacteristic errors, she saved four set points, two on her own serve, before succumbing to the Bulgarian’s big forehand in a baseline rally. But the former Wimbledon junior champion has an-all court-game that suits grass and she found her range in the second set, commanding the net and volleying with precision.

It was a low-key match in front of a subdued crowd which has become used to upsets in this year’s event.