Johanna Konta warmed up for next week’s Australian Open in perfect fashion after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska to win her second WTA career title at the Sydney International.
Konta had not beaten the world number three in her previous two meetings but blew her Polish opponent away in Sydney on Friday, chalking up a 6-4 6-2 victory in just over an hour and 20 minutes.
Playing in the city of her birth, the British number one was in control throughout and sealed the win with an ace – her seventh of the match – to continue her impressive start to 2017.
The match had not got off to the best of starts for Konta however, as she lost the first six points but she turned things around to take her third break point in the third game and didn’t look back.
Under pressure from some heavy hitting from the Brit, Radwanska saved another break point but the damage had been done and Konta wrapped up the first set with a service game to love.
The momentum continued the way of the Brit into the second set as she quickly raced into a 4-0 lead.
And while Radwanska managed to grab a couple of games back, she never seriously threatened her opponent’s serve as Konta wrapped up the win.
Victory guarantees Konta, who did not drop a set all tournament, will move up to number nine in the world rankings. "It's really nice to win another title. It is a very nice feeling," Konta said.
"I think I'm just happy overall with how I was able to progress throughout this tournament. I felt each match that I was playing I was thinking a little more clearly and was.
"But overall, I'm very happy with the match I played. I really felt I definitely maintained a high level throughout and I made it very difficult for her to do much."
Attention now switches to the Australian Open where Konta will open her campaign against Kirsten Flipkens as she looks to improve on the semi-final place she managed at Melbourne Park last year.
Meanwhile Jamie Murray is into the final of the men’s doubles at the Sydney International alongside Bruno Soares, where they will face Wesley Koolhof and Matwe Middelkoop on Saturday while Dan Evans is into the men's final.
Sportsbeat 2017