MONTREAL (REUTERS) - Agnieszka Radwanska tamed Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 to win the Rogers Cup in Montreal on Sunday, the third seeded Pole setting herself up as a player to watch at the US Open.

It was the first win of the season for Radwanska but provides a timely jolt of confidence going into Flushing Meadows and the year's final grand slam with 11 of her 14 career titles having come on hard courts.

Williams, a twice US Open champion, will also be buoyed by her performance in Montreal with a projected return on Monday to the world rankings top 20 for the first time since March 2013.

The tournament also pushed Williams past the US$30 million (S$37 million) in career earnings, joining an elite club that includes her sister Serena and Maria Sharapova.

After a grinding three-set win over top ranked sister Serena in Saturday's semi-finals, the 34-year-old American appeared to have little left against an energetic and focused opponent almost 10 years her junior.

Radwanska took control early on a sunny centre court, breaking Williams twice to race in front 4-1.

Williams would break back but the Pole would not buckle and easily took the opening set.

The world No. 5 opened the second set with another deflating break to quickly put the pressure on Williams and then broke the dejected American again to go up 5-2 before holding serve and finishing off the match with an emphatic ace.