Iga Swiatek has become the most prolific Polish player on the WTA Tour in recent years, winning five Grand Slam titles and reaching World No. 1. Before her rise, Agnieszka Radwanska was the country’s biggest tennis star, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 2, making a Wimbledon final and winning the most WTA Fan Favorite Awards (a record), before injuries forced her into early retirement.
Radwanska began playing tennis at the age of four. As a junior, she quickly established herself as one of the most promising young players, winning the Wimbledon and French Open junior singles titles in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
Over the next few years, she climbed steadily through the rankings, becoming one of the most tactically unique players on tour. Her creativity on the court earned her nicknames such as “The Magician,” “The Ninja,” and “The Professor.” Known for her slices, lobs, and ability to create sharp angles, Radwanska was celebrated for her problem-solving skills under pressure.
By 2011, she was firmly entrenched in the Top 10, winning titles at the Wuhan Open and China Open. Her best season, however, would come a year later, when she made history for Polish tennis.
Radwanska won the 2015 WTA Finals (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images for WTA)
Wimbledon 2012: A Historic Final Run
At Wimbledon in 2012, Radwanska defeated Maria Kirilenko in the quarterfinals and Angelique Kerber in the semifinals to reach the championship match. She became the first Polish player in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam singles final and climbed to world No. 2 in the rankings.
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Ahead of the final, Serena Williams praised Radwanska’s all-court skills, telling the New York Times, “Agnieszka is really, really good at everything. She has unbelievable hands. She’s running every ball down — every ball down.”
Williams and Radwanska at the 2012 Wimbledon final (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Despite a strong performance, Radwanska fell to Williams in a hard-fought 6–1, 5–7, 6–2 match. The victory marked Williams’ fifth Wimbledon title and her first major championship after a lengthy recovery from a foot injury and pulmonary embolism.
“For sure, she was really serving well today. This is the thing I can’t do anything about,” Radwanska said afterward, acknowledging Williams’ serve, as she delivered 17 aces. In ten career meetings, Radwanska was unable to defeat the younger Williams sister.
Twenty Titles, WTA Finals Champion, and Fan Favorite
In addition to her Wimbledon success, Radwanska achieved several other historic milestones for Polish tennis. She won her first WTA Tour singles title at the 2007 Nordic Light Open and helped Poland capture its first Hopman Cup title in 2015.
Radwanska finished the year ranked inside the Top 10 on eight occasions, and won a total of 20 WTA singles titles, including the prestigious WTA Finals in 2015. She reached two Australian Open semifinals, a French Open quarterfinal, and consistently advanced to the second week at the US Open.
Radwasnka during the Australian Open in 2014 ( Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Her popularity with fans was unmatched during her prime. Radwańska was voted WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player six years in a row (2011–2016), the most of any player. She also captured the Fan Favorite Shot of the Year award for five consecutive seasons (2013–2017).
Retirement at 29 and a New Chapter in Coaching
However, her last two years in tour were difficult, as she struggled with injuries and virus, which caused her to leave the Top 10 for the first time. Radwanska announced her retirement in November 2018 at the age of 29, citing ongoing physical struggles.
“Unfortunately I am no longer able to train and play the way I used to, and recently my body can’t live up to my expectations,” she wrote in her statement. “Taking into consideration my health and the heavy burdens of professional tennis, I have to concede that I’m not able to push my body to the limits required.”
Radwanska struggled with injuries (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
She also thanked her supporters: “Thank you for every sleepless night in front of the TV and all those Fan Favourite awards — that was the biggest honour and best reward for my hard work. I am truly grateful for having the best and most loyal fans in all of tennis.”
Since stepping away from the tour, Radwańska has remained close to the sport. She briefly coached Hubert Hurkacz in early 2024 and began working with Magda Linette in December 2024. Off the court, she is married to her former hitting partner, Dawid Celt, and the couple has one son.
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While she didn’t win a major title during her career, Radwanska will be remembered as one of the unique talents who made tennis more surprising and fun, winning fans’ hearts in the process.
