Victoria Azarenka was the first player from Belarus to win a grand slam in tennis. She has matched up to legends like Serena Williams and beaten Maria Sharapova in a slam final. She is an inspiring figure, without a doubt, and has pushed many to pick up the racket. In an exclusive session with EssentiallySports, her fitness coach, Francis Bougy, talked about the players she has inspired. 

After Azarenka, Aryna Sabalenka is the only player from Belarus who has managed to win a slam. Bougy also dived into how Sabalenka could’ve been inspired by Vika. 

How Victoria Azarenka inspired Aryna Sabalenka

Since she turned pro in 2006, Azarenka has managed to win 21 WTA Tour titles. Two Australian Opens, 10 Master’s titles, and 9 titles in 250 & 500 events have launched her to unprecedented glory. Her fame made many youngsters look up to her, and her fitness coach, Francis Bougy, discussed how she has managed to inspire several players.

“Definitely, there’s players, first of all from Belarus like Sabalenka. They grew up looking to Vika. There’s bunch of players when she was signing on the tour, really on the top of it. She was inspiring people by the way she plays really aggressive.” The aggressiveness of her game helped her win Slams and improve her ranking on the table.

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Her inspiration is not something that is only seen on paper. Bougy also talked about how her style of play, along with others, has also helped change the shape of the WTA. Several players, including Aryna Sabalenka, play with more aggression and less fear.

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“I think there’s a reason now why you see young girls coming up and being fearless and being really aggressive in the game because they are inspired by, could be Vika, could be Serena Williams. Those girls were like fearless and really pounding the ball everywhere and that’s how the girls are coming. So it’s a model for young players, but still for other players and many people around the world.”

Victoria Azarenka continues to play and compete with those who occupy the top spot. While she may not be winning majors or 1000 tournaments, she still goes out on the court without fear, aiming for a win. She has left a mark on the sport and will continue to have players look up to her.

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