TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN – 20th of January 2015. V.Azarenka d. S.Stephens 6-3, 6-2. An interview with Victoria Azarenka
Q. How did you feel?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: I felt pretty good. I think from the beginning I started to be pretty focused and just maintained that intensity. So that was a good opportunity to just really at the beginning take my chances because she’s the kind of player that likes to take her chances. There is still a lot to build from here.
Q. How did you use the time between Brisbane and here? Try some new things? Working hard? What was your schedule?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, obviously I just wanted to — I think the match in Brisbane was a good start for me and to really build from that and tweak a few things and really just try to get even more practice play. I didn’t get to play any tournaments, so I really just wanted to play more practice sets and play more games to really just adjust, to get my reaction a little bit more ready in the match play.
Q. Is it fair to compare your match in Brisbane and here, how much better your tennis is in a short period?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: I think it’s tricky because it’s such different circumstances and very different opponents. So I just — what I would like to think about it is that it’s a better start for me, obviously. That I really went for the shots and I took those opportunity that I may have not in my first match, in Brisbane. So that’s a little step forward. I just want to take it and try to just build from here because it’s what I need, is matches and match play, et cetera, et cetera.
Q. No little aches and pains anywhere?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: No, I’m good.
Q. Your hopes and desires for here? Just go as far as you can? You’ve been a champion here, but what are your hopes and dreams for the tournament?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, my dreams and hopes can be on a different level, you know, because… The dreams are always big, and I think that’s kind of the light in the end of the tunnel. It’s just to look and have a big objective of where you want to go. I don’t know if it’s going to happen here or whenever, I just want to work and have that mentality that that’s what I want to achievement. And there are steps to take that, there are things and a lot of work to do to be able to reach that level. So right now I’m just really focused on everyday job and try to do it as best as possible in pretty much every aspect of the game. And fitness-wise as well. And really try to put it together in matches because that’s what’s really critical right now is to be able to turn those situations around. That’s actually a tweet from WTA. Big laugh? What? Big laugh because Azarenka during her visit to the ESPN Center set with Chris Evert. Nice.
Q. You do a lot of fist pumping while you play. Is that an important thing for you…
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Did you count how many I did?
Q. No, but I could.
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Could you? Then I have like a ratio, not over 20 fist pumps or under 15. I don’t know, it just comes natural really in the moment. There has never been a statistic about fist pumping. I think you guys could have some fun with that.
