Sabine sinks Radwanska to make first Major final

Sabine Lisicki made her first Major final beating the woman who came second to Serena last year, Agnieszka Radwanska.

It was the German’s second Wimbledon semi-final. And the experience of her first one two years ago, a match in which she under-performed and lost to Sharapova in straights, seemed to have done her the world of good. Sabine started the match confidently and relaxed, staying with the ever consistent Radwanska, into the middle of the set. At 3-3 Sabine’s fiercer ball-striking and explosive movement separated the two as she broke Radwanska on her fourth break point.

The German broke ahead and served out for the match at 5-4, saving a break point with a forehand drive at the net and sealing the set with a service winner, her weapons out and firing.

Radwanska though has a couple of weapons on her own, less explosive but as effective. Her consistency and her ability to change the direction of the ball and disrupt the rhythm of their opponent came to her rescue as the increasingly nervous Lisicki, her first Major a set away, began to wobble. Opportunities like this are what Radwanska has grown rich on and she filled her pockets eagerly with Lisicki’s errors until she had drawn the match level at a set all. The momentum her way, the Pole’s pockets began to bulge as the German’s error count rose and it seemed like only a few seconds had passed before Radwanska was 3-0 to the good in the third.

With Radwanska unlikely to falter, the match took on a sense of inevitability. Lisicki is after all known for her implosions as much as her explosions. But this Wimbledon, against Serena, she also made a name for herself as something of a fighter and it was this name she wanted to go by in this match, too. Lisicki broke back and then broke again at 4-4 to serve to make her first Major final.

It was a first for Lisicki. All the years had been leading up to this though. Her big serve, her movement, her ever constant presence inside the court and the last eight and last four appearances were not enough though. Radwanska broke her and leveled the match for 5-5. The sense of a classic was now upon us. Both women’s strengths were at their optimum, the occasion and their desire in accordance.

At 7-7, it was Lisicki who broke again. For the second time, she would serve out for the match. The first time had been nerve-wracking enough and had taken its toll. The second time proved less so. Lisicki struck the ball hard and with conviction to lead 40-0. Radwanska fought off the first match point as she returned serve with depth down the line and then struck the ball that arrived in her hitting zone for a clean winner.

But Sabine is one who learns quickly. On the German’s second match point, the German did not leave any openings for her opponent. Sabine served out wide and won the match on her second stroke, a forehand down the line off the short return. Lisicki sunk down into the court, her sinking of the second seed and brief favorite sinking in. Her first Major final ahead of her, the moment overwhelmed her in the most positive of ways. For her opponent though, the curt handshake and swift exit told of the disappointment of a chance believed missed. But how much of a chance did she really have against a woman armed with weapons and belief and a sense of timing not just on her shots but of her destiny?

Ahead awaits Marion Bartoli. A test indeed. But one that has every chance to be passed. How Lisicki handles it will remain to be seen. But coming back from breaks down in the third against Serena and Radwanska in the spotlight of the World’s premier tennis tournament suggests she might handle it rather well and what might be better to ask is how well she might handle the Venus Rosewater Dish as she raises it above her head.