Makarova steamrolls tentative Radwanska

Agnieszka Radwanska refused to use a recent personal tragedy as an excuse for her shocking exit from the US Open on Sunday.

In another boilover of a women's draw already without Sara Errani, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki and Sam Stosur, Poland's third seed was eliminated 6-4, 6-4 by Russia's Ekaterina Makarova under the floodlights at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Radwanska was aiming to become the only woman to reach the quarterfinals at the four Grand Slam events this year. Despite a blazing start, in which she led 4-0, the 24-year-old was bundled out by her more powerful opponent in one hour and 32 minutes.

The third-seeded Radwanska was the runner-up at Wimbledon in 2012, and has made it to the quarterfinals at both the Australian Open and French Open. But she's never been past the round of 16 in New York, losing in the second round in 2006 and 2009-11, in addition to her fourth-round exits in 2007-08 and each of the last two years.

Radwanska's preparations for Flushing Meadows were complicated last month when she left the US during the Cincinnati Masters to attend the funeral for her grandfather in Poland.

"I had a couple of days to practice, to adjust to the courts, to prepare for the Open," she said.

"I don't want to make any excuse. It's not because I went back home that I lost today. It's not that, for sure."

Makarova struck 28 winners to overwhelm the more tactically-minded Radwanska. The world No 4 lost eight straight games to concede the first set and trail 0-2 in the second.

Radwanska fought her way back, and held four break points to level the second set at 4-4. Makarova, the 24th seed, sealed the game with an ace before going on to close out the match with a flurry of big serves and forehands.

"I wouldn't know what happened," Radwanska said. "She was a little bit nervous in the beginning but started to play better and better, and she hit the ball very well.

"I didn't do anything to win that first set."

(China Daily 09/03/2013 page24)