Radwanska wins 2nd round clash in Dubai

Polish tennis star Agnieszka Radwanska seized victory in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday, vanquishing Israeli hopeful Shahar Peer. The Cracovian won the match in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.

Radwanska quickly took three games in the first set, only to allow her rival to climb back up to a 5-4 lead. Poland's top player then rallied her energies and managed to win 7-5, avoiding a tie-break.

The second set developed very much along the lines of the first, with Radwanska taking a comfortable 5-2 lead. Peer then fought back, clinching two successive games before Radwanska knocked the match on the head at 6-4.

Meanwhile, Belarusian star Victoria Azarenka, currently the World No.1, has become the latest high-flier to pull out of the tournament. Azarenka, who injured her left ankle last week, follows in the footsteps of Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, French Open winner Li Na and World No. 8 Vera Zvonareva, all of whom have pulled out of the Dubai event.

Agnieszka Radwanska is currently No. 6 in the World Tennis Association rankings, her best standing to date. (nh)

Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland serves the ball to Shahar Peer of Israel during their second round match of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 22 February 2012. PAP/EPA/ALI HAIDER