Brisbane Report: Vika Brings on Girl Power, Federer to Debut New Racket by Matt Cronin

Written by: Staff on 30th December 2013

Brisbane Report: Vika Brings on Girl Power, Federer to Debut New Racket by Matt Cronin

epa04002584 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus returns the ball to Serena Williams of the US during their exhibition tennis match in Hua Hin coastal city, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Thailand, 28 December 2013. EPA/PONGMANAT TASIRI |

Belarussian Victoria Azarenka has been Ms. Australia during the past two seasons, winning back-to-back titles at the country’s Grand Slam. In 2012, she came of age by devastating Maria Sharapova for the crown, which keyed her ascent to the No. 1 ranking. She became the second player of her generation to hold up one of her sport’s biggest trophy, following Petra Kvitova, who win Wimbledon in 2011. She surpassed her then good friend Caroline Wozniacki by reaching No. 1 and winning a major, something the Dane has yet to do. She left another member of her generation, Dominika Cibulkova in the dust, and then after winning her second major at the 2013 Australian Open, eclipsed Kvitova (whom she hasn’t played since 2011), as the tall and powerful Czech has been unable to win another major due or reach No. 1 to her often poor health and erratic play.

Azarenka is a tough, in-your-face sort who is an interesting character and is endearing to some, but she can ignite controversy. That’s what occurred last year in Melbourne when some accused her of gamesmanship in her semifinal win over Sloane Stephens when she took a medical timeout at a critical moment in the contest. She was not penalized severely on court, but off the court; she was put through the ringer. She faced the music the day before the final, meeting the press head on while at the same time her coach, Sam Sumyk, called some critics vultures. Despite the emotional trauma, she ended up winning a tight final over Li Na. It was a well deserved victory given how consistent and courageous she was in the third set, but when she returns to Melbourne this year she will be asked about the Stephens match again and again. Her character will be under the microscope.

“The whole experience was a roller coaster, but it was ‑‑ I only have great memories about it,” she said in Brisbane on Monday. “I remember that feeling, and it will always stay with me. But I try to not get these emotions come to me right now or while I play. I will look back at it once I’m done with tennis and try to feel that moment again. Right now I need some space for new memories.”

Azarenka need some fresh thoughts in Brisbane, too. Even before 2013 Melbourne she had caused a bit of a firestorm in Brisbane when she pulled out of her semifinal against Serena Williams after receiving what she called a bad pedicure. Some thought she was ducking the great Williams, whom she had a poor record against. She denied it and her toes were legitimately infected, so she should have been cut some slack, but that memory still lingers.

On Monday, she was asked whether or not she was up for another pedicure in Brisbane.

“I mean, I will definitely, but not at the same place,” she said. “And very careful, you know. Just some things you can’t control, but you definitely learn from them. If you make this mistake once, it’s shame on that. But if you do it twice, it’s shame on you.”

Perhaps most interestingly this week, Azarenka will debut some new team members. She has gone to ‘Girl Power,’ hiring a new fitness trainer and two new physiotherapists after a fall stretch that saw her injure her back post her US Open final round loss to Serena and physically fall part at the WTA Championships.

Her new team members are fitness trainer Christa Pryor, and two physios: Stephanie Turpin who is with her in Brisbane and Fabrice Gautier who will be with at the Australian Open and much of the rest of the season.

“In the end of the season when you’re not very well‑prepared, these things come up,” said Azarenka who will play popular Aussie Casey Dellacqua in her first match. “I felt like I wasn’t really prepared back then. You learn from your mistakes, mistakes or experience, and you just try to get better. That’s what’s exciting for a new challenge, for a new year, to see what can you do better. You will always have it a little bit different with a different trainer. I’m really happy with my team right now. I have a lot of girls on my team, which is awesome. We have great energy.”

Match of the day

Aussie Marinko Matosevic tipped Julian Benneteau 5‑7, 6‑4, 7‑6 in front of a delighted home crowd. “I didn’t want to go into the Australian Open winless again. It’s happened the previous three, four years, so it’s important,” he said.

Development of the Day

Top seed Roger Federer is still waiting to play his first match with his new Wilson 98-inch Wilson stick, but he says he’s quite comfortable with this frame and it doesn’t appear that he will go back to playing with his old 95-inch model. He has yet to reveal what his new racket is named and says he’s not even sure who much it weighs (“I’m not that detail crazy about it”), but he did say it’s not the same one he tried out after Wimbledon, which he sent back.

“It’s one that Wilson worked on and adjusted after my comments,” he said. “They anyway wanted to do some more work on that racquet. They sent me one round of racquets after the US Open, and now another one after the World Tour Finals I tested again a couple and chose the one I’m playing with now, that I’ve been practicing with two and a half straight weeks in Dubai with it. I feel very comfortable, more comfortable than I did with the one after Wimbledon, which felt very different but very good as well. This one feels more of an extension that I had before, but it’s more futuristic form, I guess. I’m actually very eager to see how it’s going to react in the matches now.”

Quote of the day

A smiling Federer was asked whether having Stefan Edberg as his new coach means that he will be forced to play a more offensive game: “Like if I don’t serve and volley he’s going to split up with me?”

What to Watch for on Tuesday

Aussie teen hopeful Nick Kyrgios takes on another home country player, Matt Ebden on Pat Rafter Arena, while another Aussie teen, qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis, has the pleasure of facing Aussie legend Lleyton. Hewitt on the same court in the night feature match.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Caroline Wozniacki, Christa Pryor, Dominika Cibulkova, Grand Slam, Julian Benneteau, Li Na, Maria Sharapova, Marinko Matosevic, Melbourne, Nick Kyrgios, Petra Kvitova, Roger Federer, Sam Sumyk, Sloane Stephens, Stefan Edberg, Stephanie Turpin, Tennis, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka, Wimbledon, Wta Championships

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