Melbourne // Rejuvenated former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka believes she is primed for a solid run at the Australian Open after an injury-wracked two years, with the pain-free star happy and in form.
The Belarusian won the opening Grand Slam of the season at Melbourne Park in 2012 and defended the title the following year before injuries stalled her high-flying career.
She struggled with foot and knee problems in 2014 and only played nine tournaments, also battling depression and a split from long-term boyfriend Stefan Gordy, better known as Redfoo, the US musician and reality TV star.
Then a painful thigh strain in 2015 sent her spiralling down the world rankings.
Read more: Serena Williams downplays knee injury as 'hiccup' and insists she will be fit for Australian Open
But she is again fighting fit and won the build-up Brisbane International last weekend, dropping just 17 games in four matches for her first title since Cincinnati in August 2013, propelling her back into the world top 20 at number 16.
It sets up her as a legitimate threat at the Australian Open, starting Monday, with a host of other top players struggling with injuries or illness.
“Definitely a lot more comfortable, a lot more calm, a lot more aware. Happy. Very happy,” Azarenka told the Herald Sun late Tuesday as she prepares for another title shot.
“I was hurt the whole year actually,” she added of her troubled 2015 campaign.
“There was not a moment where I felt good. (Now) I have no pain. There was a lot of medication last year which made me feel crazy actually at some moments.
“I don’t respond well to medication. It was a constant battle with pain, with my own fear. Like, is it going to hurt again?
“I don’t want to go through that. But it took me to a point where I decided, ‘Ok, I got to stop and try to figure out and actually change my life around the tennis court’.”
Nicknamed “Vika” and renowned in the past for fiery on-court outbursts, Azarenka is now coached by Wim Fissette after splitting with long-time mentor Sam Sumyk and said it had taken time to adjust.
“I had a lot of changes last year, so it took a little bit of time to regroup, reorganise, mature a little bit, understand how to organise yourself,” she said, adding that she was once again enjoying her tennis.
“I think being an athlete we always think about physical performance tennis and tactical performance. I think mental preparation is very important -- feeling happy on the court.
“We have such a long season. To have that sense of just enjoyment, joy on the court, I think is important, too.”
Nick Kyrgios hit by Open injury scare at Kooyong
Nick Kyrgios suffered an Australian Open scare on Wednesday when he pulled out of his opening match at the Kooyong Classic with a right foot injury.
The 20-year-old Australian handed David Goffin victory as he retired with the score at 6-7 (5/7), 3-2 to the Belgian. The year’s first Grand Slam starts on Monday in Melbourne.
“I felt it in training yesterday,” said Kyrgios, the world number 30, after pulling the plug as a precaution at the 12-man Grand Slam warm-up event. “I started feeling it again today when the treatment wore off.
“I have to think about next week, I really hate to do this but I had to.”
The colourful contender finished with 15 aces, including four in his final service game of the second set.
“Hate withdrawing, so sorry to everyone @KooyongClassic I just have to make sure I’m right for next week & I will be,” he tweeted after.
Belgium’s Goffin, who had to deal not only with an injured opponent but with the swirling wind which characterises the club, said he was sorry that the match was unable to be completed.
“Even if it was a set and a half, it was hard to play,” he said. “It was very hot on court (around 40 Celsius) and there is always a wind.
“I understand Nick’s worry and the pullout. He’s never easy to play with that big serve and forehand.”
Spain’s Pablo Carreno-Busta earlier beat the 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-4, without dropping serve.
“I had a good finish, I’m very happy,” the Spaniard said. “I played some good tennis against a good player. I tried a few drop shots near the end just to change things a bit and they worked.
“It’s good to play in the heat which we will be experiencing next week.”
A final match between German Alexander Zverev and Britain’s Kyle Edmund was cancelled.
Organisers were vague about the reason, at one point suggesting excessive heat and later citing what they claimed was a shoulder problem for Zverev.
In an exhibition match before a sparse crowd, 2014 champion Kei Nishikori of Japan beat Australian teenage hopeful Omar Jasika 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 10-4.
Asia’s top player was cruising 6-1, 4-1 and seemingly in command when his challenger launched a fightback, breaking Nishikori as he served for the match.
Jasika took the set into a tiebreak which he won as Nishikori put a backhand long. But Nishikori claimed victory a few minutes later with success in the match-tiebreak.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
