Two-time Aussie Open champion Victoria Azarenka was left in tears while talking to reporters after falling to Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2 on Day 2. The Belarusian, now working with coach Wim Fissette, had high hopes about starting strong in 2019, but it turned out to be a disastrous day as an energized Siegemund flipped the script on her after trailing by a set and a break.
The loss was enough to push Azarenka to a breaking point.
Fighting tears, she said:
“I’ve been through a lot of things in my life and sometimes I wonder why I go through them, but I think they’re going to make me stronger, I want to believe that and I’m going to work hard for it.”
Azarenka’s frustration stems from the fact that she believes she has been doing the right things in practice. It’s a recurring theme from last season when she went 3-3 in the Slams and did not reach beyond the third round. Azarenka enters the week ranked at 53 in the world, but missed a chance to pick up some ranking points in Melbourne, where she did not play last season.
“I have improved, I’m just really struggling to do it in the matches. It’s just not coming together,” she said. “It’s really disappointing.”
Azarenka, who gave birth to her son Leo in December of 2016 and has since undergone a much publicized custody battle, was ranked outside of the Top 200 this time last year. She’s making progress, just not at the level she is accustomed to.
“I need to continue to work hard to try and find a solution but I’m struggling right now to do that,” said the 29-year-old. “It’s not easy to sit here and be positive but I don’t have another choice. I worked hard and I was prepared well but sitting here is disappointing but you’ve got to keep going.
“It’s not going to stop me, after today. No matter how much it hurts, I have to learn from it. I’ve never really learned how to struggle before so maybe it’s a lesson but it’s disappointing.”