When Hingis retired, for the first time, it appeared to mark the end of an era in which brains prevailed against brawn. Since then the women's game, led by the Williams sisters, has been dominated by those bludgeoning rather than coaxing the ball over the net.

But then emerged Radwanska, herself part of a sister act alongside younger sibling Urszula, as proof that even the biggest hitters can still succumb to guile and court craft.

"I'm not a player that can serve 200 [kilometres] per hour, so I always have to find another way to win matches," Radwanska told Fairfax Media from Bangalore, where she beat her childhood idol.

"Which is why I do much more than others."

It is a style that has served her well. En route to the 2012 Wimbledon final, against Serena Williams, in which she came agonisingly close to her first major title and world No.1 ranking, the Wall Street Journal described her as "the most tactically sound, subtle tennis player in the world".

Given the size advantage she gives away to opponents - she is just 56 kilograms and 172 centimetres - she has to be. Not that she doesn't work hard on the physical aspects of her game. A typical training day will stretch for 4½ hours and consists of, among other things, 300 sit-ups and two sessions on court. But, like everyone, Radwanska has a weakness.

"I love the Cheesecake Factory, they are the best, and I'm happy I'm in partnership with them," she said.

"Everything is for people, when you work out and you're running a couple of hours a day right and left, you can have a cheesecake."

Ranked sixth in the world, Radwanska is one of the star attractions of the upcoming Apia International Sydney, the lead-up Australian Open tournament she won in 2013. The 25-year-old is part of a gun women's field which includes Australian hope Sam Stosur, Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova and French Open runner-up Simona Halep.

There is however, a rival much closer to home. She describes Urszula, aged 23 and once ranked as high as 29th, as her best friend. "I think this is great, having someone in the family with you," she said.

"You're not alone even if you are alone. We're travelling so much, 10 months of the year, so it's really cool to have someone from the family, really supporting each other.

"We're really close, she's like a best friend and we do pretty much everything together. When we are away we are in touch on skype every day chatting all the time."

The sisters have played each other professionally four times, Agnieszka winning all bar the first encounter. On court, there is no love lost.

"You always want to win against everyone," Agnieszka said. "It's good competition, there's no jealousy or anything like that. We're just pushing each other forward, which is what we're doing since we were kids."

While they have not had the same impact on the game as the Williams sisters, their contribution in their homeland has been immense. Agnieszka, who has earned more than $17 million in prizemoney to date, was given the honour of being Poland's flagbearer at the 2012 Olympics.

Her profile will rise higher still if she can close in on her twin goals of a breakthrough slam and the world No.1 ranking. Given there were four different female major winners in 2014, Radwanska feels it's now her turn.

"Of course, everything changes," she said. "In one year, four women win grand slams so we all can do it. This is very different to men's tennis when four guys are dominating pretty much everything.

"Every grand slam is an opportunity to win, so I'm definitely looking for that … This is the goal for everyone playing professional tennis. I was pretty close once to winning the grand slam and being No.1. I have still a couple of [years] to try."