Radwanksa defeats Goerges in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland won her eighth career WTA title on Saturday, defeating Julia Goerges of Germany 7-5, 6-4 in the Dubai Tennis Championships final.

Radwanska will rise one place to a career-best No. 5 when the world rankings are updated today.

The fifth-seeded Radwanska led in both sets but it took her almost two hours to overcome the unseeded Goerges, who ousted defending champion Caroline Wozniacki the day before.

The German rallied on her powerful forehand, but Radwanska patiently remained on the baseline to watch Goerges’ unsuccessful forays to the net, rushed shots and long and wide returns.

Radwanska was close to victory in the second set with a 4-1 lead but her German opponent won three more games before Radwanska wrapped up her second win over Goerges in a month.

“Her forehand - it’s a very big weapon,’’ Radwanska said. AP