Radwanska's calmness made the difference

Dubai: It's the small things that matter to new Dubai champion Agnieszka Radwanska, and it is such minor aspects that actually were the difference between her and Julia Goerges in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open on Saturday.

"I think I was just better on a couple points, to be honest. Two tight sets, and, you know, I think it was just pretty close and tight. But I think in the important moments I was just more consistent," Radwanska told media following her close 7-5, 6-4 win over Goerges for the Dubai title on Saturday.

"For sure it was tough, especially that the conditions were also a little bit difficult. It was windy, but, I'm just so happy that I just stayed calm until the end and was focused on my game," added the Pole, who will rise to a career-high No.5 in the world when the weekly rankings are announced today [Monday].

One of the stand-out qualities that caught the attention of all was the veil of calmness surrounding Radwanska during the course of the week. "It's always difficult. I think I had some experience that it's better to stay calm even if something is not going your way. It's better to just fight until the end with the hope that everything can change any time," she disclosed.

"But I think it was a little bit difficult, especially in the second set. I was 4 1 up with the two breaks, but then she started to really play better. She was just fighting until the end. It was pretty close in this last game. It's hard to stay calm, especially that you know you have already advantage in the second set and you're serving for the match," the 22-year-old added.

Saturday was Radwasnka's eighth singles title, her previous successes coming in Stockholm (2007), Pattaya City, Istanbul, Eastbourne (2008) and Carlsbad, Tokyo and Beijing (2009). All three losses in 2012 have come against world number one Victoria Azarenka - the semi-finals in Doha and Sydney and the quarter-final at the Australia Open.

But despite such a strong streak the new world no. 5 feels she has a long way to go before she can scale to the top of women's tennis. "I think nobody is perfect, so you can improve everything. When I'm practicing, I'm practicing on every shot for everything, not only one thing," she said.