Azarenka shows the value of never giving up on your dream

By File: Victoria Azarenka (9420649174).jpg: Christian Mesianoderivative work: Minerva97 - This file was derived from:  Victoria Azarenka (9420649174).jpg:, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87419674 — By File: Victoria Azarenka (9420649174).jpg: Christian Mesianoderivative work: Minerva97 - This file was derived from: Victoria Azarenka (9420649174).jpg:, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87419674

In 2013 Victoria 'Vika' Azarenka was established as one of the top players in the world. At the age of 23, she had won successive Australian Opens and was consistently placed in the top three women in the ATP tour rankings. Vika looked certain to be a dominant force in the game for several years to come, but fate had other ideas. Major problems began in 2014 when a foot injury forced Azarenka to miss the first 5 months of the season.

A combination of injuries and depression meant that she ended the year outside the top 30. By early 2016 Vika seemed to be approaching her best again, but injuries struck, and in July, she announced she was pregnant by boyfriend Billy McKeague. Son Leo was born in December, but her relationship with McKeague ended, and a custody battle ensued.

By Tatiana from Moscow, Russia - Victoria Azarenka, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45597641

After a year out, Vika returned in June 2017 but then had to miss another 6 months to win Leo's custody. She returned low on confidence and with a shaky serve. By early 2020 the end of her career looked imminent, but after the coronavirus hiatus, she was, miraculously, a different player, confident, assertive, and cheerful, and came within a few games of winning the US Open final.

By Peter Menzel - Victoria Azarenka, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89222420

Vika now claims that she has let go of the big ego that she had when she was younger. She says that what she is most proud of is having become a better person for herself and her son. It has taken six years of struggle, but Vika is now back at the very top of the game, and is more popular than ever before. After all she has been through, many will be willing her to succeed at the French Open, but the most important battle has arguably already been won.