Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has appointed Michael Joyce as her new coach as she prepares for her return to the tour.
The 27-year-old hasn’t played a competitive match since the French Open after taking time out for the birth of her first child. On December 21st Azarenka gave birth to a baby boy called Leo. She is currently the only mother ranked in the world’s top 20.
The exact date of Azarenka’s return to the tour is unknown, but her comeback is gaining momentum with the appointment of Joyce as her new coach. Joyce is a former ATP player, who peaked at a high of 64th in 1996. Since retiring from professional tennis, he coached Maria Sharapova between 2004- 2011 before being replaced by Thomas Hofstead.
Hey guys! I would like to officially welcome my new coach Michael @mikejoyce73 to the team Vika. I’m very excited about our partnership!
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) 12 March 2017
Despite her absence due to motherhood, it hasn’t stopped the world No.17 from making headlines in the sport. Earlier this month Azarenka voiced her verdict about Sharapova’s return to the sport after serving a doping ban, labeling it as a ‘good’ thing for tennis.
“I think it’s good for tennis,” Azarenka told Omnisport. “She has such a huge fanbase and obviously that’s going to bring more attraction to see how she will do, so I think it is good for tennis, good entertainment.”
According to New York Times journalist Ben Rothenberg, Azarenka is aiming to return to action in the summer for the US hard court swing. The Belarusian is a two-time finalist at the US Open in 2012 and 2013.
So far in her career, Azarenka has played in 36 finals on the WTA Tour, winning 20 titles. She has won 133 matches at Premier Mandatory and Premier 5 events, third highest in history.
