Victoria Azarenka- “I’m Fighting For Women”

The former World Number one, Victoria Azarenka succeeded to pull off her second title as a mother, this Sunday in Rome. She teamed up with the Australian, Ashleigh Barty and triumphed in the women’s doubles event of the Italian Open 2019. And her first title as a mother came in Acapulco this year. 

Recently, Victoria Azarenka revealed about her initial thoughts for making a comeback in tennis when she delivered her son, Leo. In the beginning she was apprehensive but eventually, she knew tennis was her ultimate adobe. 

“I was scared, it wasn’t easy,” Victoria Azarenka conveyed BCC. “I knew I was going to come back but my first thought was, ‘Oh my god I’m never going to play tennis again. But then it was all about knowing I was going to come back, and when I was going to come back”.

The 29-year-old, Victoria Azarenka felt stronger when she first stepped on the tennis courts after giving birth. “I felt it was a blessing, but I still wanted to have my own dreams and my own career. I’m sure a lot of women won’t be able to relate to me but I felt so much better after (the pregnancy). I felt so much stronger physically, and my body became so much better. I felt like my body finally matured into being a woman,” Victoria Azarenka continued.

While the WTA players are on maternity leave, their rankings are protected so that they do not suffer upon their return to tennis. In 2019, WTA amended some rules for the players who come back after pregnancy, they can play 12 tournaments over a three-year period using their previous ranking in order to avoid a face-off against a seeded opponent in the initial rounds.

“We have the power to change the rules and we have done. I think that’s what I want my legacy to be, that I’m fighting for women to be more comfortable, to break those stereotypes and move the needle a little forward. That evolution is going to continue to break boundaries and the illusion of women in sport,” Victoria Azarenka concluded.

On the singles court in Rome, the Belarusian, Victoria Azarenka dethroned the two-time reigning champion, Elina Svitolina by making a comeback from a 5-2 down scoreline in the third set and then she surrendered to the ultimate champion, Karolina Pliskova in the quarters. And now, she eyes to triumph at French Open 2019.