PALO ALTO, Calif. — Agnieszka Radwanska said she was taken aback by the hubbub in her native Poland over her nude photo forESPN the Magazine's Body Issue but offered no contrition.
"Why do I have to apologize?" the fourth-ranked player told USA TODAY Sports on Monday as she prepared for the Bank of the West Classic.
Last week, Radwanska was criticized by Catholic groups and dropped by a Catholic youth group for her "immoral behavior."
CONTROVERSY: Radwanska dropped by Catholic group
Radwanska had served as an ambassador for the group and filmed a public service message, posing in front of tennis balls that spelled out "I am not ashamed of Jesus." She first responded publicly last week with a statement on her Facebook page.
Radwanska, fresh off her Wimbledon semifinal showing and the top seed here, said Monday her religious and professional lives should not be so glibly conflated.
"It was a long time ago," she said of the message. "Anyway, it shouldn't really be connected, these two things. It's for a sport magazine. It shows sports bodies and sports life and all the interview is about tennis."
Radwanska said she is Catholic but that the organization "definitely" overreacted.
"If I was thinking (it was wrong)," she added, "I wouldn't do that."
Radwanska pointed out that many other athletes young and old as well as a number of tennis players such as Serena Williams, John Isner and Vera Zvonareva had appeared semi-nude in the Body Issue.
Asked if she had been in contact with the youth group, she said: "Why should I? I think I did what is good for the sport."
Now refocused on her summer hardcourt campaign, Radwanska took some needed downtime following her grueling Wimbledon campaign.
The 24-year-old Pole didn't touch a racket for five days after contesting a series of lengthy matches, including her 6-4 2-6 9-7 defeat to Sabine Lisicki in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Radwanska said it was painful to lose with a first Grand Slam title so close and her position as the favorite, at least in ranking, heading into the All England Club's final weekend. No. 15 seed Marion Bartoli of France beat No. 23 seed Lisicki of Germany to win the championship.
"The title was pretty close," said Radwanska, whose body was crisscrossed with athletic tape by the time she reached the final four. "I didn't really use my chance. On the other hand, I was really, really exhausted."
She said she was so beat up she had little time to dwell on it.
"I wasn't even strong enough to be angry and do crazy things," she laughed. "Those matches really cost me a lot of energy."
Radwanska is seeking her third title of the season after winning at Auckland and Sydney on hardcourts in January.
This is her fourth appearance at the Bank of the West, which is held on the campus of Stanford University. Her best finish was the semifinals in 2010.
Radwanska received a first-round bye and plays 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone.
As for the recent uproar, Radwanska told reporters she was surprised it garnered so much attention.
"I think I wasn't really expecting that huge thing about it," she said with a smile. "Still happy that I did it."
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