Famous Athletes Biography: Victoria Azarenka

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Victoria Azarenka

Victoria Azarenka Biography

Victoria Azarenka Bio

An aggressive baseliner known for her searing strokes and loud shrieks, Victoria Azarenka has registered her best results on hard court, winning nine of her 10 career titles on the surface. Azarenka captured her first career major title and clinched the world No. 1 ranking for the first time when she crushed Maria Sharapova, 6-2, 6-0, in the 2012 Australian Open final after defeating defending champ Kim Clijsters in the semifinal. Azarenka opened the 2012 season beating Li Na to win Sydney. She collected her third consecutive title in Doha, beating Sam Stosur in the final to raise her record to 17-0 in 2012. Azarenka continued to roll in March, sweeping Sharapova in straight sets to win her first Indian Wells title and raise her record to 23-0 — the best start to a season since Martina Hingis began 1997 on a 37-0 tear. In September, 2011, she reached a career-high rank of No. 3 becoming the highest-ranked Belarusian player in history (the previous highest was Natasha Zvereva at No. 5). Azarenka enjoyed her most successful season in '11, winning three titles — Miami, Marbella and Luxembourg — registering runner-up results in Madrid and the WTA Championships and contesting her first major semifinal at Wimbledon where she lost to eventual-champion Petra Kvitova. The No. 1 junior in 2005 when she won the Australian Open and U.S. Open junior crowns, Azarenka had a breakout year on tour in 2009, winning her first three singles titles, including Miami, and reaching the Top 10. She also reached the quarterfinals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Nicknamed “Vika,” she’s known for her fiery temper on court. She won the 2007 U.S. Open mixed doubles title with countryman Max Mirnyi and the 2008 Roland Garros mixed title with Bob Bryan. At age 14, Azarenka moved from Minsk to Scottsdale, Arizona. She now lists the popular player tax haven of Monte Carlo as her home.

Victoria Azarenka Tournament History

Singles Titles

2012: Australian Open, Sydney, Doha, Indian Wells

2011: Luxembourg, Miami, Marbella

2010: Stanford, Moscow

2009: Brisbane, Memphis, Miami

Doubles Titles

2011: Stanford, Madrid

2010: Cincinnati

2009: Memphis, Indian Wells

2006: Tashkent

Victoria Azarenka