After five seasons in the top-10 and almost 20 WTA titles on her tally, Victoria Azarenka was forced to slow down in 2014 and 2015 after struggling with injuries and form. A former world number 1 and a two-time Australian Open champion had a stellar start of 2016, becoming only the third player who claimed Indian Wells-Miami double and she announces a pregnancy soon after that, missing all the action after the Roland Garros and giving a birth to a son Leo in December. After splitting with boy’s father, Victoria was forced to miss the rest of 2017 after Wimbledon due to a custody battle that she won in January this year, having to withdraw from the Australian Open despite receiving a wild card but returning to action at Indian Wells.
The Belarusian competed in only two events over the course of almost two years and she struggled to find form in the season behind us, winning 17 out of 29 matches and achieving one prominent result following a semi-final run in Miami in just the second tournament after joining Tour again.
Vika is now ready to make a full swing in 2019, starting the season from ABC Classic in Auckland where she played only once before, back in 2006 when she was 16. Azarenka has been able to train on a very intense level during the offseason period and she is ready to attack big titles and higher ranking positions for the first time in three years, hoping to pick up her form already in Auckland.
“I don’t remember that much about last time,” Azarenka told Stuff. “I’m sure the site has changed and evolved, it’s been 12 years but doesn’t seem like that long,” said Azarenka. I remember the city a bit, but I’m excited about coming back to New Zealand.
One of my dear friends has a house not too far from Auckland, so I’ll get a chance to visit that too. This year has been incredibly tough for me to be able to perform at my best without preparation and the level I want to play at, but without any preseason training, or serious training.
For me, my standard is always really high and that’s why I’ve taken my time to prepare the best I can for next year. So this year it’s been whatever, I try to look at the positive things that happened, but tennis-wise, it’s hard to assess anything that’s happened.
I have a lot of memories of Marina Erakovic. We played doubles together in juniors and won the Australian Open and I played her in the quarterfinals in singles. So I remember her really well and she’s been a great player and done a lot of work on the tour, being a part of the players’ council as well.
A lot of players appreciated her dedication to the tour, including myself. I remember her family, her dad traveled with her and she’s a really nice girl, a real hard worker and I wish her all the best in what she decides to do after tennis.”
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