Feb. 2, 2012
VICTORIA AZARENKA
AND
BELARUS FED CUP CAPTAIN
TATIANA POUTCHEK
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Can you tell us what the last few
days have been like for you since you came
back from Australia, how you’re feeling now as
the new world No. 1.
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, it’s a great
feeling. I don’t think it’s really hit me yet. I’ve been
busy doing a few off-court activities, also dealing a
little bit with the jetlag from Australia is difficult.
It feels great. But I’m here to support my
team and just arrived today. Kind of still feeling the
team spirit.
Q. You went from Australia right to
L.A.?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yes.
Q. Take us how the last couple days
have gone for you.
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, I was
resting. I did a show, a talk show with Ellen
DeGeneres. Went to see Kobe Bryant play for the
Lakers. That’s pretty much it. A little bit of resting,
relaxing, that’s it.
Q. Was there a point in the match with
Maria Sharapova where you thought you could
win it?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, I was really
focusing trying one point at a time, not thinking
ahead too much, because that’s one of the biggest
mistakes I think to do during the match, if you think
too much ahead. I was really trying to play one
point at a time. That’s it, keep going.
Q. When you go to sleep at night do
you feel like the No. 1, Grand Slam champion?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: No, I go to sleep
exactly the same way. I sleep on my stomach as I
was before (laughter). That’s pretty much it.
Of course, I’m really proud. It’s a great
feeling to have. But I just want to work hard and
try to keep the same motivation as I have now.
Q. What is it like playing on this
surface out here? How have you found it?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, it was my
first time out there today. Just finished practice.
It’s a little bit different, I would say. It’s a little bit
crooked. But, I mean, it’s the same for everybody.
The bounce is a little bit tricky here. It bounces
really high.
But, I mean, in Australia it was also kind of
similar, high. I have a little bit of time to adjust. It’s
good.
Q. Do you feel more pressure being on
the No. 1 ranked player in the world, from your
team, to kind of carry them?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: No. I mean, we
are a team. That’s what it’s all about. It’s not only
one person. It’s about teamwork, team spirit. No,
no pressure. I just met them today.
Q. Do you feel more of a challenge now
that you are the top-ranked player in the world?
Other players are looking at you and are
wanting to take you on specifically?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: It’s definitely
going to be more challenging. A lot of people are
going to have more motivation.
But I feel like being No. 1 I want to work as
I’m No. 2.
Q. Venus Williams hasn’t played since
the US Open. Serena Williams has an injured
ankle. Are you preparing as they will be the
two singles players you’ll face or does it matter
to you?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, we’ll see. I
mean, the U.S. has a great team. Yeah, Venus
didn’t play for a while. But she’s not a beginner.
She knows how to play tennis. Doesn’t really
matter.
Serena has been showing some tennis I
think lately. I don’t know about her ankle. It’s not
my part. But I’m preparing for her to be a hundred
percent, and that’s it.
Q. Talk about the challenge of facing
Venus and Serena. Would you relish the
chance to play them?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Venus, yes, I
haven’t played her in a while. I just played her in
an exhibition match, which was pretty irrelevant
comparing to now. But, I mean, they’re both tough
players. As I said, they know how to play tennis.
They know how to handle big matches.
Fed Cup is completely different than when
you play for your own. It’s different matches.
We’ve seen in history very different results. So
we’ll see how it goes.
Q. Do you have a preference of which
of the two sisters you’d like to open the
tournament with?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: There’s no
preference really. It’s like you have preference
more when you choose your dinner or lunch.
Q. Now that you’ve won your first slam,
what’s the next goal for you?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Another slam.
Q. After he won the Australian Open,
Novak Djokovic went a long time without
losing. Are you planning on winning for a
while?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: No, I’m planning
on losing my next match. It’s just a very silly
question, I think.
Q. What kind of mental attitude does it
take to be the best at anything?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: I’d say it’s a lot of
hard work and dedication to be a real professional
24/7. It’s not only when you step on the court you
have to try to be professional and be your best. It’s
all the details and all the things you do off the
court, which are sometimes more important than
when you perform.
Q. Most matches are Saturday. Will
there be time to talk about your games and how
you can help one another?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yeah, for sure.
But we know each other pretty well. The girls on
the team, I’ve know since I was 10 years old,
actually even younger. I mean, we go for official
dinner, bring like a board and draw some plans.
No, I mean, we’ll see. We’re going to have
team meetings like every team does. But we just
try to stay loose and keep our focus for Saturday.
Q. You played a lot of Fed Cup
matches. What is it that you love about Fed
Cup that makes you want to keep coming back
and playing for the team?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: I’m a patriot of
my country. I think it’s important for all the athletes
to participate and play for your country. We do it
pretty much all year long, like Olympic Games.
But it’s a special event. It’s the only the
event where we play as a team. It’s fun. I think it’s
important.
Q. What has the reaction been like in
Belarus?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: You should ask
my captain.
CAPTAIN POUTCHEK: She doesn’t know
yet.
VICTORIA AZARENKA: I haven’t been
there. My mom told me a little bit, that people were
really happy. I’m really proud of that. For me the
most important is that it brings extra motivation for
kids to go out there and chase their dreams,
believing in themselves. Hopefully we’ll have more
competition with the juniors. That’s what’s missing
right now.
I hope this kind of a breakthrough would
help the inspiration for the young ones.
Q. Were you in Belarus?
CAPTAIN POUTCHEK: Yeah, I was. It
was huge. I would say it’s like, I don’t know, 80%
or 90% of population was watching, like everybody.
Everybody was on TV watching the match.
It was spectacular. Everybody talking only
about Victoria, about the first Grand Slam, about
having her No. 1 in the world for the first time. It’s
huge.
Q. Are you going to do anything, like in
Serbia, where you go on a balcony and wave to
everybody?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: I don’t know if we
have the balcony.
CAPTAIN POUTCHEK: We’ll find one.
But now it’s too cold to go on the balcony.
Q. What do you think will happen when
the team returns home?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, it’s not
going to be for a while. We have our plans after. I
have my tournaments after here. So it’s a little bit
difficult, you know, to go back because it’s going to
be a lot of attention. I would like to stay focused
and keep going through the year.
Of course, I’m going to go home, but when
I have a little bit longer break, when I can give a
little bit of time and attention for people, for media,
plus have some attention for myself and for my
family.
Q. After Miami?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Maybe before
Indian Wells. But don’t write it.
Q. What is your advice for aspiring
athletes to be No. 1, just athletes in general?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, I always
think and say that you always have to have fun.
You know, when you do something that you love,
that you enjoy doing, even though it’s hard, it’s
never going to be easy. But when you have fun,
you always going to do it better because you give
your heart, you give your passion into it. You put
the best chances and your best attitude on your
side.
I think the result becomes more
productive.
Q. What makes tennis fun for you?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: The atmosphere,
the game. I mean, I have huge passion for the
game. My first coach taught me that love of the
game. It’s difficult to explain with the words. But
it’s the feeling every time you step on the court, it’s
like you’re in this bubble that people are focusing
on you, and you try to produce the best as you
can, you’re trying to be the best as you can. But
you have another person who’s trying to do the
same. So it’s this battle. As funny as it sounds,
you enjoy that battle. When it’s hard, when it’s
pain, when it’s hot outside, you enjoy it.
Q. Did you get a chance to talk with
Kobe?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: I wish. I was
sitting there and he looked at me a few times. I
was like, Oh, my God. My mom was so happy to
watch how he was playing. She was like, Oh, my
God, he’s unbelievable. It’s amazing to see it live.
It was my first time as well.
It’s pretty remarkable.
Q. Super Bowl is coming up. Who do
you think will win?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: I’m not really big
football fan. But I think it’s a great game. I’m just
not that into it. But I think it’s very interesting
game. When I get to know few athletes, it
becomes more and more interesting.
I would love to follow it more. My fitness
coach is crazy about it, checking live scores when
we were practicing and stuff. Whoever my team is
cheering for I’m going to cheer for.
Q. If Belarus is able to beat the U.S.
what would that mean for you personally and
professionally?
CAPTAIN POUTCHEK: Well, I mean, I of
course would be very happy for my team and for
the result. I think it’s going to be great for us to
move one step forward to the World Group.
VICTORIA AZARENKA: I think we should
talk about it on Sunday. It’s too early to speak
about it.
Topics: Azarenka, Bnp Paribas, Fed Cup, Poutchek