Outside of Serena Williams, the top of the women’s game seems to be a revolving door. Every few years someone new seems to attempt to hold down the top spot in the game. From 2011 through 2014, it looked like Victoria Azarenka was going to be the one to change that narrative.
The Minsk native was a staple in the top 3 and did reach No. 1 in the world rankings. It was during this time that Victoria Azarenka did almost all of her damage at the Grand Slams. Two Australian Open titles (2012, 2013), a French Open semifinal (2013), two Wimbledon semifinals (2011, 2012), and a pair of US Open finals (2012, 2013).
During this short reign of excellence, Azarenka became known around the world for her fearsome power on both wings as well as her tenacious fighting spirit. Her roar in the midst of battle became a signature for the soon-to-be superstar.
Can Victoria Azarenka make a huge comeback at the 2023 Wimbledon?
She won her first Grand Slam down under by obliterating the legendary Maria Sharapova 6-3 6-0. It was a comprehensive performance that introduced the Belarusian to the world. To that point, outside of the Williams sisters, Sharapova was the biggest name in the women’s game.
But the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, and Maria Sharapova are now mostly gone from the game. (Yes, Venus is trying to make her own comeback at Wimbledon but no one likely expects her to win.) But maybe Azarenka can change her own narrative and make a late-career run at a Grand Slam title.
How a run to greatness began for Victoria Azarenka
Azarenka began the 2012 season at 26-0 which vaulted her to the No. 1 ranking as she racked up 6 total titles in the year in addition to the Wimbledon semifinals and a US Open final. For the next few years, she carried this confidence and momentum as she became one of the unquestioned best players of her generation.
Her game was about brute force and overpowering the opposition. With her unrivaled fighting spirit, she was able to lift her game to heights nobody would have predicted. Unfortunately, her peak came during peak-Serena years as well.
Azarenka lost both the 2011 and 2012 US Open Finals to Williams as well as their 2012 Wimbledon semifinal clash. Her lone Semifinal appearance at Roland Garros in 2013 saw her fall to Sharapova.
How many Grand Slams could she have racked up during this period without the GOAT and an icon being around? A fun “What if?”, scenario. This is where the fun stopped though, as 2014 was an injury-plagued season for Azarenka as she missed nearly half the year.
Her ranking plummeted, and she was never able to fully recapture the form she showed during the previous 3 years. While she was still a solid player, she fell more in the Top 20 range, and no longer was she a Top 3 stalwart.
Players like Ashleigh Barty, Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka and now Iga Swiatek all rose to prominence at various stages in the last decade. While Azarenka has not fallen far in the rankings, she was no longer the dominant entity we had come to know.
However, she still has an indomitable fighting spirit. That is something that injury can never dampen. This was evidenced by her run to the 2020 US Open Final, the 3rd of her career. She bested 38-year-old Serena in the Semifinal before falling to Osaka in a 3-set battle in the final.
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.