2009 SUMMARY
Titles Won: Brisbane, Memphis, Miami
Best Grand Slam Result: QF: Roland Garros, Wimbledon
Win/Loss Record: 44-13
Record Against Top 10: 5-6
SEC History: Making tournament debut
Azarenka's Sony Ericsson WTA Tour bio
No player made a more compelling start to 2009 than Victoria Azarenka. One of a handful of then-teenagers who finished 2008 in the Top 20, the Belarusian had been beaten to the tournament winners' circle by the likes of Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki. But in the first week of the new season she finally won her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title, at the Brisbane International - and things only took off from there.
Indeed, had Azarenka not succumbed to blazing heat and a virus during her fourth round match against Serena Williams at the Australian Open, the Grand Slam honor roll might look a bit different. Having won the opening set, Azarenka appeared to be on course for a famous win - until illness forced a wobbly, distressful retirement.
Still, she was back in action a few weeks later, beating Wozniacki for the indoor title at Memphis, another International event. Then came a powerful double whammy performance: a semifinal run at Indian Wells, which included a win over world No.1 Dinara Safina, was followed by ultimate victory at Miami, where she edged Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semis before overwhelming defending champion Serena in the final.
Photo Gallery: Azarenka's 2009 season
At this point Azarenka had won 24 of 26 matches played in 2009; made her Top 10 debut (on March 23); and reached a new career-high of No.8 (after Miami). In the ensuing couple of months she also reached the quarters at Roland Garros and Wimbledon - her best Grand Slams showings to date - as well as the semis of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome.
However, as her 20-11 record post-Miami suggests, the excitement seemed to catch up with Azarenka in the second half of the season. Her best outing of late has been a quarterfinal effort at Tokyo, where she lost a tight three-setter to Li Na. But at least her early round losses have been to quality opponents, including two former world No.1s making comebacks: Maria Sharapova (at Los Angeles and Beijing) and Kim Clijsters (Toronto), as well as eventual champion Jelena Jankovic at Cincinnati. The biggest surprise was a third round loss to Francesca Schiavone at the US Open, but the Italian veteran has been in terrific form recently.
With her explosive, free-hitting style, Azarenka has the game to leave opponents - and fans - breathless. With a 5-6 record against the Top 10 this year, she'll be a contender, certainly, but to triumph at her maiden season-ending Shampionships she'll need to harness her emotional energy and find an effective Plan B if a match isn't going her way. Even if success isn't immediate, it can only be a matter of time.
Highlights: Miami: Williams vs. Azarenka Interviews: Azarenka Wins Sony Ericsson Open
