Interview: Victoria Azarenka, tennis player (WTA #9)

I am a high achiever

Being on the road is very demanding, tiring, and living out of a suitcase could be hard sometimes but I understand that I have to make this small sacrifice to do what I love. Tennis is a global sport, it comes with a lot of travelling. I knew what I signed up for when I decided I want to be a pro player


By MARKO ANDREJIĆ (marko.andrejic@wavemagazine.net)
from Belgrade, SERBIA


Victoria Azarenka is a Belarus tennis player, born in Minsk on July 31, 1989, with current residence in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. She is a pro tennis player since 2003, and her world ranking is No.9 at the moment. Azarenka is right-handed with two-handed backhand. She is 1.80m high blondie, very symphatetic and charming girl. Her friends call her Vika.

In an exclusive interview with WAVE magazine, she is talking about her career, what does it look like living on the tour all the time, about her cooperation with Nikolai Khabibulin and personal and professional life goals. We did this interview via e-mail, as Victoria was in Paris, just between her tournaments in Marbella and Stuttgart.

You play very good recently and this is a very good period for you - results and current WTA ranking definitely prove that. Are you satisfied with your play and world ranking at the moment? What do you consider the best element of your game and where do you see place for improvement?

- First of all, thank you. If I said I was satisfied, than there would not be a point for me trying to improve any more. I am a high achiever; I am never satisfied with how I play. This is what keeps me going actually. I always want to improve, I want to get better, and until this feeling is there, I am motivated and I am ready to play.

I think I am a very aggressive player and I started coming to the net more often and these turn out to be a big weapon for me. As for improvement, I think I need to learn how to keep myself calm and level-headed during matches.

How does it look like your cooperation with your coach?

- I am thankful I have Sam Sumyk working with me. He is a great coach, and he has already helped me a lot. I usually practice twice a day and maybe one fitness or running session. Tennis basically takes up my day.

How many matches and tournaments do you play every year? Are you sometimes afraid of injury because tennis players have really hard job to do playing every week in a different place, sometimes even Time Zone?

- I think I play somewhere around 20 events or so each year (exhibitions and charity events excluded that is). Maybe a bit more. I am not even sure because I play so many events. The key to stay injury free is fitness and taking good care of my body. I run a lot, I do stretching, massage sessions, and I never miss my warm-up either. I am still young, I am expecting a long career, so I have to make sure that I am fit enough to play for many more years.

Can you make a comparison between men and women tennis, what are the differences and where are similarities?

- I think it's hard to make comparisons, men serve bigger, they play faster points, while women have longer rallies. One thing is for sure though, no one plays like Roger.

What does it look like being on the tour all the time? Travelling from country to country, switching planes, hotels, courts, and having only about two months every year to take a rest? How often do you travel to your hometown Minsk?

- I try to go there as much as I can. However, not as often as I would like obviously. Being on the road is very demanding, tiring, and living out of a suitcase could be hard sometimes but I understand that I have to make this small sacrifice to do what I love. Tennis is a global sport, it comes with a lot of travelling. I knew what I signed up for when I decided I want to be a pro player.

You moved to Arizona, USA in the summer of 2005 and Nikolai Khabibulin, the Russian goalie (hockey) helped you a lot in developing your professional career. You say that he and his family are like your second family. How did it happen and how would you describe your relationship?

- The Khabibulins have been just wonderful with me. Their daughter, Sasha also played tennis, and Nikolai offered to take me with them to Arizona, where I started training with my former coach. I have lived with Nikolai's family; we became friends and I feel very connected to them. I am also a huge hockey fan, thanks to Nikolai.

We heard you enjoy shopping and have a big collection of shoes, is that true? What else do you like doing in your free time? Are you more party-girl or you prefer quiet fun - dinner, walks, books?

- I am a big shoe junkie, that's true. I also like hanging out with my friends, go to dinners. I like exploring new places. I also like basketball and I love hockey.

You have a profile and Fan Page on Facebook, as well as Twitter account. Do you have time to write there and use this social networks by your own, or you have people who take care of that?

- Of course I write my own Twitter feeds. I like Twitter because I can stay connected to my fans and friends. I have a profile on Facebook as well, and I have my own website, which is being redesigned soon, so I am superexcited for that.

Who is your best friend in WTA Tour?

- I am a great friend with Caroline Wozniacki.

What is your personal and professional life goal?

- I would like to keep improving as a player. My goal is to be the best I can be and one day, I would love to accept a trophy at a Grand Slam event. Hopefully soon. As for personal goals, I just want to live a happy and satisfied life. I would like to stay balanced as well because I think it is important you find peace and balance in your life.



(Published: 10.05.2010.)