It was 2015. Serena Williams was coming into the season fresh off her US Open victory from the previous year. She started her career in the Australian Open warm-up event, the Hopman Cup. Nevertheless, she was shockingly defeated in that competition. Poland went on to win the championship by defeating Williams’ Team USA in the finale. Agnieszka Radwanska, one of their famous names, reflected on the unique triumph.
During that period, Radwanska was at the peak of her abilities and faced Williams head-on. Radwanska responded to the moment when it became popular on social media in a way that made it clear to the world that she still holds this memory in high regard.
That year, Radwanska and Jerzy Janowicz teamed up for the Hopman Cup. Together, the two made a great team and won their group. In the tournament, they only suffered one tie against France. They so advanced to the championship match and faced John Isner and Williams’ Team USA.
Radwanska beat Williams in the opening singles set of the summit battle. The match was an intense and tantalizing battle that lasted three sets, with the Polish player winning 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1. Isner, though, broke through Janowicz in straight sets to even the match. In the final, the combined might of Radwanska and Janowicz overcame Williams and Isner to win the 2015 Hopman Cup.
A fan account on Twitter posted a preview of that match a few hours earlier. The post went viral on social media as people looked back on old memories. Radwanska was even drawn to it, responding with an arm-flexing emoji, her nation’s flag, and a face with sunglasses emoji.
Over her career, Radwanska has frequently struggled against Williams. The Polish player, who had once lost badly, praised Williams’ style of play.
After winning the Hopman Cup a year prior, Radwanska fell short versus Williams in the semifinals of the Australian Open. She lost against the American sensation in straight sets, 6-0, 6-4. Radwanska then talked candidly about Williams’ performance.
“She goes on court and she just wants to kill it,” the Polish celebrity remarked. Simply put, there was no error. Amazing service. She was aiming for everything. Yes, I had limited options. Actually, not at all. Nobody actually has the ability to play at that level, in my opinion.
Now that their heyday is over, Radwanska and Williams are content with their retirement. In retrospect, Radwanska’s 2015 Hopman Cup remains a fitting chapter in her career, one of which she would have been extremely proud.
