Victoria Azarenka is a master of juggling responsibilities. The Belarusian tennis star balances her roles as a dedicated mother and an exceptional player with remarkable ease. With the Australian Open just two days away, Azarenka is gearing up for her favorite Grand Slam, where she lifted back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. Before the tournament begins, she delighted fans at the exhibition event “A Night With Novak,” playing mixed doubles match alongside Andy Murray against Novak Djokovic and Qinwen Zheng. The event was not only entertaining but also evoked cherished memories for Azarenka, which she shared emotionally.

The match was a spectacle, featuring Djokovic and Zheng teaming up against Azarenka and Murray in the Fast 4 Tennis format. The game went down to the wire, tied at 4-4, and a final tie-break point decided the match. Zheng stepped up and clinched the victory for her and Djokovic with a 5-4(4) win.

Fun fact: Interestingly, all four players on the court boasted Olympic gold medals, making it a fittingly “golden” encounter. Djokovic and Zheng secured their Olympic titles last year, while Azarenka and Murray claimed theirs at the London 2012 Olympics.

Her son’s reaction to her medal just highlights her ability to be an amazing mother off the court and a brilliant tennis player on it.

Victoria Azarenka opens up about how ‘it’s not easy’ being a mother and tennis player

As a mother, Victoria Azarenka continues to inspire with her ability to balance her career and parenting. In an Instagram Q&A session, she opened up about the challenges. “I think it’s not easy. However, it’s also a big privilege for me that I’m able to bring my son to work and he’s able to watch me play. Now he has school, so it’s a little bit more difficult, but [I’m] very privileged that I’m able to share that life with him.”

She also spoke about how physically demanding it can be to manage both roles. “But it’s definitely not easy, especially physically. You kind of sometimes have to push yourself, then you still need to have some energy to be a mom.”

The 35-year-old gave birth to Leo Azarenka McKeague on December 19th, 2016, with her former partner Billy McKeague, who is a golf instructor. Azarenka won custody of her son and he has become a familiar face at tennis events, often accompanying Azarenka and even making appearances during press conferences, where he proudly supports his mother’s achievements.

Azarenka’s 2025 season started at the Brisbane International. She reached the second round but fell to Marie Bouzkova in straight sets. Despite the loss, her focus has shifted to the Australian Open, where she will play Lucia Bronzetti in the first round.

As Azarenka steps into Melbourne Park, she carries the memories of her past triumphs and the hopes of creating new ones. Will this be the year she adds another chapter to her Australian Open legacy?