Martina Navratilova: Agnieszka Radwanska was a special player who overachieved

Martina Navratilova has hailed Agnieszka Radwanska as “the most creative player of her generation” and believes she overachieved because of it.
The Polish star announced her retirement last week at the age of just 29 due to injury.
Radwanska reached number two in the world and played in a Wimbledon final in her career, but Navratilova says that was due to one very special quality.
“Agnieszka Radwanska was a contradiction,” Navratilova wrote in her wtatennis.com column.
“She was the most imaginative and creative player of her generation, and yet so risk-averse that she had a really hard time trying anything new on the practice court.
“She didn’t want to miss, not even in practice.
“That was why she didn’t like to hit the ball hard when she felt she couldn’t control it.
RELATED: Comment: Agnieszka Radwanska retires as one of Poland’s all-time greats
“I worked with her for a few months and, on the practice court, she was happy playing it safe.
“When most players practise, they are at their most imaginative and creative – they do stuff that they wouldn’t normally even try on a match court.
“Radwanska was the total opposite. In matches, she would hit shots on the fly that she had never done in practice.
“When she had to be, she was the most imaginative player there was.
“In matches, Radwanska would play the shot of the day, the shot of the month, the shot of the year.
“I think she made the highlight reel more often than any other player on the WTA Tour.
“She was quick on her feet and quick with her mind.
“Looking back at her career, you would probably say she overachieved – it’s hard to accomplish as much as she did without any weapons, though you could say that perhaps she could have hit the ball a little harder.
“Tennis will miss Radwanska a lot. She was one of a kind, and there aren’t too many who can say that.”
More from Tennis365:
Comment: Roger Federer’s lack of excuses suggest he is closer to the end that we feared
EXCLUSIVE: Greg Rusedski makes a bold Novak Djokovic prediction ahead of 2019 season
EXCLUSIVE: Greg Rusedski gives his verdict on what comes next for Roger Federer
Comment: A Roger Federer in decline is still far better than most players, so respect it
Johnny Nic: Save the infantile booing for pantomime season, not great tennis spectacles
Latest
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon day eight: Follow the action from SW19 with Tennis365’s live scores and results centre here…
Catch the action from Wimbledon with our live scores and results centre…
-
Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic hopes son Stefan follows in his footsteps, but ‘it’s too early to speak about it’
Like father like son for Novak Djokovic and Stefan?
-
Wimbledon
Jannik Sinner on fledgling rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz: ‘Great level of tennis, great attitude from both of us’
The battle between two of the biggest prospect in tennis did not disappoint on Centre Court.
-
Wimbledon
‘Nick Kyrgios has brought tennis to the lowest level with his cheating, manipulation, abuse,’ says Pat Cash
“It’s gone too far now,” says Pat Cash about Nick Kyrgios’ antics.
-
Wimbledon
Venus Williams and Jamie Murray exit Wimbledon mixed doubles after losing thrilling final-set tie-breaker
Britain’s Jonny O’Mara and Alicia Barnett won a marathon final-set tie-break.
-
Wimbledon
Ons Jabeur after reaching Wimbledon quarter-final: ‘I really want the title’
Ons Jabeur wants to go all the way at Wimbledon.
-
Wimbledon
Fines revealed for Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios after bitter Wimbledon grudge match
Stefanos Tsitsipas has been given the biggest fine of Wimbledon so far for unsportsmanlike conduct
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon botch scheduling but Novak Djokovic comes through late in the day
Play did not start for the day on Centre Court until 14:24, due to a centenary celebration.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon day seven: Novak Djokovic comes through in late night clash
A number of new faces have also made the last eight in the women’s singles at Wimbledon for the first time.
-
Wimbledon
Iga Swiatek defeat was coming but vanquisher surprises
Mats Wilander thought it might be a big-serving player who brought Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon hopes crashing down.