Radwanska's Rat Race

Andrew Lawrence

September 08, 2008

Since Agnieszka Radwanska's improbable run to the fourth round of last year's U.S. Open—a smashing Grand Slam debut during which the then 18-year-old's euphoria over her third-round upset of Maria Sharapova was briefly tempered by her concern for Flippy and Floppy, the pet rats she had to leave behind in her native Poland—she has continued to defy expectations. So far in 2008, just her third season on the WTA tour, she has won three tournaments, earned $842,142 in prize money and climbed as high as No. 9 in the rankings. Her loss to Venus Williams on Monday means that Radwanska (above) has lasted until the fourth round or later at every slam this year. But her success has come at a price. "I had to give away the rats," she says. "I'm away too much to take care of them."