Agnieszka Radwanska secures Shenzhen Open crown with emphatic victory over Alison Riske

Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska celebrated her rise to the top four of the world rankings with a 6-3, 6-2 thumping of Alison Riske in the Shenzhen Open final on Saturday, her 18th WTA career title.

Radwanska had ensured she will replace Russian world number four Maria Sharapova in Monday's rankings by reaching the final of the tournament in China and backed that up with a routine victory over her American opponent.

'I think Alison was really playing solid tennis today,' Radwanska told reporters. 'She has a very powerful game from the baseline -- I was really struggling from the baseline.

Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska claimed her 18th WTA title after winning the Shenzhen Open 

The 26-year-old beat Alison Riske 6-3, 6-2 in the Shenzhen Open final at Longgang Sports Centre

'I was really in a lot of trouble there.

'But my serve really helped me today. Also, in the deciding points, I was a little bit better and I think that's why the score was the way it was -- it made it look easier than the actual match was.' 

The Pole did not drop a set in her run to the title and Saturday's triumph will increase her confidence ahead of the Australian Open, which gets underway in Melbourne on Jan. 18, after a spectacular end to last season. 

Radwanska showed steady improvement throughout 2015, winning titles in Tokyo and Tianjin before she claimed her first WTA Finals championship in Singapore last November when she overcame Petra Kvitova in three sets.

Radwanska returns a shot during her straight sets victory over Riske in the Shenzhen Open final 

United States' Riske plays a shot in her Shenzhen Open final defeat by Radwanska on Saturday

The former world number two will now head to Sydney for her final warmup before the first grand slam of the season.

'It's the beginning of the year, so we're all fresh compared to the end of the year. I'm feeling good,' the 26-year-old added.

'Also I have a bye there (Sydney), so I'll have a couple of days off right now.' 

Following her victory over Riske, Radwanska will be seeded fourth for the Australian Open later this month

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