Wimbledon 2013: Talking points from Day 8

Radwanska lays down a marker

Agnieszka Radwanska

In what was so far the best women’s match of the tournament in terms of quality, Agnieszka Radwanska prevailed with stunning resilience and guile against Li Na.

Li’s ball striking and power were probably the finest she’s ever played on grass before and had it not been for two dodgy line calls and equally dodgy choices to not challenge them, she would have won the first set and possibly sitting in the semifinals now.

But even with a thigh problem, Radwanska refused to buckle and held on until Li eventually broke down in the third set. Some of the returning and passing shots she produced at the end of the first set were superb both in their execution and tenacity.

Radwanska is a nightmare for opponents to break down because her slices and chess like shot selection is something that the WTA is seriously lacking in at the moment. Could you imagine Dinara Safina facing Radwanska at the height of the ‘I hit harder’ era?

So the majority of the players don’t have the know-how to overcome her. The only way to beat it seems is to hit her off the court, which Li just couldn’t do. Her suppleness and adaptability is what won her this match and in my view – as long as her thigh holds out for the next two matches – makes her the favorite.