Can Victoria Azarenka return to prominence at Wimbledon?

Does Victoria Azarenka have a chance at Wimbledon?

Fast forwarding to today, Azarenka is the 19th-ranked player in the world. Solid, but not the force she used to be, she has struggled for consistency in 2023 as her record sits at 14-12 for the season.

She is 1-2 during the grass-court swing, with almost no momentum after a 1st round exit at Roland Garros. She will be a solid seed at Wimbledon, but much of her chances will depend on how the draw shakes out.

If Azarenka can string a few wins together early, the self-belief that carried her to the top of the game could begin bubbling back to the surface. If she can make it to the second week at the All England Club, her big match experience could prove to be a huge advantage.

The top women in the game today are a mix of young upstarts and late bloomers. None of which have the history or experience of Azarenka. The pressure and weight that comes with playing at Wimbledon are different, and Azarenka can definitely use this to her advantage.

It’s very hard to predict, as she could absolutely go out in the first or second round and nobody would be overly shocked. However, if she was to appear in the semifinals, there would be no question she would instantly become the sentimental favorite.

Azarenka has won 21 career titles, two of which are Grand Slams. She’s closing in on 600 career victories and has been world No. 1 for 51 weeks. Since then, she has become a mother, gaining a new perspective on the sport.

As someone who has always rooted for her, especially to break up the Serena and Sharapova dominance,  I hope she can make a deep run in London. If she does, you can bet the tennis world will love to hear her roar on Center Court, even just one more time.