LONDON: Agnieszka Radwanska insists she will be fit to face Serena Williams in Saturday’s Wimbledon semifinal despite suffering a health scare yesterday, which caused her to cancel a scheduled news conference.
After pulling out of her pre-final interview session, Radwanska confirmed she is fighting breathing problems and has been struggling to talk.
“Unfortunately I have picked up upper respiratory illness, it’s affecting my nose and throat,” she said.
“I have been playing a lot of matches here in the rain and cold wind, and I haven’t been well for a few days. The most important thing is that I’m feeling good on the court and playing some good tennis, despite not being able to talk much away from the court.
“I will do whatever it takes to make sure I’m ready to play the best I can,” added the Pole, who withdrew from her scheduled doubles third round match in midweek where she was playing with sister Urszula.
“I was really hoping that I would have improved overnight so I could come in to finish my press today, but unfortunately I can’t speak for very long, and so I have done as much as I can do today. I’m very sorry about that.” Radwanska, the first Polish Grand Slam finalist for 73 years, had to cut short her media duties on Thursday after beating Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-4 in the Wimbledon semifinals.
The 23-year-old — a Wimbledon junior champion in 2005 — was so badly troubled by a cough during the 10-minute session that she had to call a premature halt to proceedings after several sips of water failed to ease the problem.
Victory on Sunday, meanwhile, would elevate her to the world number one ranking.
“Everyone dreams when they are a kid about becoming No.1, so I’m very happy to have a chance to play for the top ranking,” she added in a statement.
“But there is still one very tough match to go. Of course, I will do everything in my power to perform well and win, but it’s not going to be easy.” The world No.3’s coach Tomasz Wiktorowski expects the Pole to recover in time for the biggest match of her life.
“She’s still sick, we’re trying to do the best to bring her back to health for the match,” Wiktorowski told BBC Radio Five Live.
“As you know what can we do? With the anti-doping policy we have to obey all the rules. We can’t use all the medications in the shops. We can just use garlic, hot tea with honey, aspirin...nothing else.
“I think the worst day was during the quarter-final for sure. That was the worst day and the night. She is getting better but very slowly. She is very strong girl it is not such a big problem. To retire and cancel the final...not at all.” Williams said she was looking forward to taking on Radwanska who she has beaten twice in two meetings.
“She’s looking good and getting ready,” said the American who reached the women’s doubles final on Friday with sister Venus.
“It would be good to have a day off, but also it’s good to practice in doubles because I get a lot of match play, practice some returns, some serves. It was fine.”
Radwanska will play Wimbledon final despite illness
