Azarenka’s Maturity and Consistency are Key to Her Success in 2012

You can’t help but get a sense of déjà vu when contemplating Victoria Azarenka’s current position in women’s tennis. The belarusian enjoyed a stellar year back in 2009, reaching her first two Grand Slam quarterfinals, winning in Miami, and hitting a career-high ranking of No.6. When she barged through to the Australian Open quarterfinals early the next year, and had Serena Williams on the ropes, it seemed she had simply picked up from where she had left off.

But Azarenka let slip a 6-4, 4-0 lead on that day against Williams to lose that match, and the rest of her 2010 season pretty much went with it. Her performances waned, she struggled with injury and she came close to losing her place in the top 20.

Fast forward to the end of 2011, and Azarenka was in a similar position to late 2009, coming off a season in which she reached two Grand Slam quarterfinals. She actually progressed to the semis at Wimbledon, won in Miami, and hit a career-high ranking. But given the greater heft of this year’s achievements compared with two years ago, and a significant mental breakthrough, it seems unlikely her deflating 2010 season will be repeated in 2012.

Unlike many other WTA stars, Azarenka’s career progression has been steady and incremental rather than dazzlingly rapid. At age 22, she’s yet to match the milestones achieved at a far younger age by the Williams sisters, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin, and to a lesser extent, contemporaries Caroline Wozniacki and Petra Kvitova. But her improving results in 2011 would not have gone unnoticed by her peers.

The belarusian swept to her second title at Miami in devastating fashion, swatting aside Clijsters, Vera Zvonareva, and Sharapova in straight sets in her last three matches. After five trips to Major quarterfinals, she finally cracked the code at Wimbledon to record her first Grand Slam semifinal finish. At the WTA Championships – an event she has traditionally struggled in – Azarenka romped to the final before losing to Kvitova in a torrid, three-set battle.

Results aside, probably the most resounding improvement in Azarenka’s game has been her mentality. Once combustible, her new approach first came to light in Miami, where she survived several tough three-setters before coasting at the business end of the tournament.

“I’m enjoying myself so much on the court that there’s no room for frustration. People want to see me emotional – they like it – but this is how I am right now. I just don’t care if I lose. I’m just there to do the best I can,” she told wtatennis.com after winning the final.

Possibly aiding that mindset is the fact that her game has no glaring weaknesses. Azarenka has a solid serve, relentlessly powerful and accurate groundstrokes, great athleticism and excellent skills at net, plus a game that’s adaptable to all surfaces, and a fierce competitive drive. She has, however, been vulnerable when facing the game’s biggest hitters. Li Na brushed her aside in Melbourne and Paris, Serena Williams destroyed her in Toronto and New York, and Kvitova halted her run in the Madrid final, Wimbledon semi and the WTA Championships final.

Heading into 2012, Kvitova looms as Azarenka’s chief rival–a player many believe is the one most likely to take control of a tour crying out for a dominant champion. Yet Azarenka’s steadily improving performance against the Czech lefty throughout 2011 has been like a microcosm of her career. After losing in straight sets in Madrid, Azarenka took their Wimbledon semifinal to three sets before forcing an even tighter three-set affair in Istanbul. Her improved mentality also shone through – Azarenka fought hard rather than drooping, after a 6-1 first set drubbing in the Wimbledon semis to take the second. She kept her cool as Kvitova raced to a 5-0 first-set lead in Istanbul, erasing the deficit by continuing to fight and take her chances.

This progressive maturation and consistency stands Azarenka in good stead amid the fluctuating, turbulent form of the current WTA troupe. Now sitting at world No.3 and entering the new year in full flight, 2012 may be the year that Azarenka resoundingly delivers on the promise that was so apparent back in 2009.

Matt Trollope is a journalist based in Melbourne, Australia. He has covered one Wimbledon championship and the past four Australian Opens, writing for the official tournament websites.