Ten years after being solid because the villain on her strategy to her second Australian Open title, Victoria Azarenka has lastly put devastating accusations of gamesmanship behind her as she chases a 3rd crown.
The veteran Belarusian and 2012 and 2013 champion is into the Melbourne Park semi-finals for the third time after gorgeous world No.3 Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-1.
Azarenka grew to become emotional when requested about her 2013 semi-final conquer Sloane Stephens, the place she was accused of gamesmanship for taking medical timeouts after blowing 5 match factors.
“It was one of the worst things that I’ve ever gone through in my professional career: the way I was treated after that moment, the way I had to explain myself until 10.30pm at night because people didn’t want to believe me,” Azarenka stated.
“I actually can resonate with what Novak (Djokovic) said the other day: there is sometimes, like, I don’t know, incredible desire for a villain and a hero story that has to be written.
“But we’re not villains, we’re not heroes. We are common human beings that undergo so many issues.
“Assumptions and judgements, all those comments, are just s*** because nobody’s there to see the full story. It didn’t matter how many times I said my story, it did not cut through.
“It took me 10 f***ing years to recover from it. I lastly am over that.”
Azarenka admitted the personal insults that followed the incident had initially made her doubt her own character.
“I’ve been referred to as that I’m dishonest, that I’m faking, that I used to be making an attempt to throw individuals off their recreation. It’s the whole lot that’s so unsuitable about my character if anyone truly is aware of me,” she stated.
“… At some level you are like, ‘actually? Am I?’ Those doubts begins to creep in.
“Now I just don’t care. Like, I am more and more confident in what I know about myself, and I’m at peace with that.”
Azarenka additionally opened up on coping with nervousness all through 2022, saying she now took a less complicated strategy.
“I don’t think you recognise it right away. I think it builds up until you hit kind of a pretty bad spot where nothing kind of makes sense. You feel kind of lost,” she stated.
“I was at the point where I couldn’t find anything that I feel good about myself, not like even one sentence.”
Azarenka subsequent faces No.22 seed and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Thursday for a spot within the ultimate.
The 33-year-old respects the formidable problem standing between her and a sixth grand slam ultimate look on Saturday night time.
“Her ranking obviously doesn’t tell the full story,” stated the previous world No.1.
“She’s very powerful. Big serve. She’s in the semi-final, so she’s obviously playing amazing.”
22-ELENA RYBAKINA (KAZ) leads 24-VICTORIA AZARENKA (BLR) 1-0
2022 Indian Wells, exhausting, R32, Rybakina 6-3 6-4
ELENA RYBAKINA
Age: 22
Ranking: 25
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US6,389,853
Career titles: 3
Grand slam titles: 1 (Wimbledon 2022)
Australian Open win-loss file: 9-3
Best Australian Open end result: semi-finalist 2023
VICTORIA AZARENKA (BLR)
Age: 33
Ranking: 24
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US34,927,538
Career titles: 21
Grand slam titles: 2 (Australian Open 2012, 2013)
Australian Open win-loss file: 47-12
Best Australian Open outcomes: champion 2012, 2013
