Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Victoria Azarenka

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Victoria Azarenka made an impact.

Victoria Azarenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player, renowned for her achievements in women's tennis. She reached the world No. 1 ranking and held it for 51 weeks. Azarenka has secured 21 WTA Tour-level singles titles, notably winning the Australian Open in both 2012 and 2013. She holds the distinction of being the first Belarusian to win a major singles title, solidifying her place in tennis history.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

November 2003: ITF Junior Circuit Debut

In November 2003, Victoria Azarenka debuted on the ITF Junior Circuit in Israel, winning one doubles title with Olga Govortsova.

2004: US Open Win

At the US Open, Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Azarenka in the fourth round, though Azarenka upset former world No. 1 Martina Hingis in the third round. Azarenka and Max Mirnyi won the mixed doubles title, defeating Meghann Shaughnessy and Leander Paes.

2004: Wimbledon Girls' Semifinal

In 2004, Victoria Azarenka reached the semifinals of the girls' competition at Wimbledon, losing to Ana Ivanovic.

2004: Pushed Myskina in Rome

In 2006, on clay in Rome, Azarenka pushed 2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina to a third set.

2005: Radwańska at Wimbledon Championships

At the 2006 Wimbledon Championships Azarenka lost in first round to 2005 Junior Wimbledon and 2006 Junior French Open Champion and Wildcard Agnieszka Radwańska.

2005: Junior Grand Slam Wins and ITF World Champion

In 2005, Victoria Azarenka won two junior Grand Slams (Australian and US championships), ended the season as junior world No. 1, and was named the 2005 World Champion by the ITF.

February 2006: First Top-20 Win

In February 2006, Victoria Azarenka defeated her first top-20 player, Nicole Vaidišová, in Memphis.

2006: US Open Third Round

In 2006, at the US Open, Victoria Azarenka achieved her best Grand Slam result to that date by winning her first match against Anastasia Myskina and reaching the third round, where she lost to Anna Chakvetadze.

2006: Lowest Ranking Finish Since 2006

In 2014, Victoria Azarenka ended the year ranked world No. 32, her lowest ranking finish since 2006, due to an injury-plagued season.

2007: Start of Azarenka-Bartoli Rivalry

From 2007 to 2012, Victoria Azarenka and Marion Bartoli played 12 times, with Azarenka leading the head-to-head 9-3 overall and 1-0 in Grand Slams.

2007: First Meeting with Maria Sharapova

In 2007, Victoria Azarenka won her first meeting against Maria Sharapova in the second round of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

2007: US Open Mixed Doubles Title

In 2007, Victoria Azarenka won the US Open mixed doubles title with Max Mirnyi.

2007: Grand Slam Matches

Victoria Azarenka won only seven Grand Slam matches in 2010, matching her 2007 tally.

July 2008: Career-High Doubles Ranking

On July 7, 2008, Victoria Azarenka achieved a career-high ranking of No. 7 in the world in doubles.

2008: Start of Azarenka-Li Na Rivalry

From 2008 to 2013, Victoria Azarenka and Li Na played 11 times. Azarenka led the head-to-head 6-5 overall, and 2-1 in championship matches, but trailed 1-2 in Grand Slam matches.

2008: First Meeting with Li Na

In 2008, Li Na defeated Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts tournament.

2008: First Meeting with Serena Williams

In 2008, Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams first played each other at the Australian Open, with Williams winning in straight sets.

April 2009: First Title Since April 2009

Victoria Azarenka won her first title since April 2009 at the Bank of the West Classic, defeating Maria Sharapova in the final after defeating top seed Samantha Stosur in the semifinals.

2009: Second Australian Open Meeting with Williams

In 2009, Azarenka and Williams met again at the Australian Open, where Williams won after Azarenka retired due to illness.

2009: First WTA Tour Final Win

In 2009, Victoria Azarenka defeated Marion Bartoli in the final of the Brisbane International, marking her first success in a WTA Tour final.

2009: Year-End Top 10 Singles Ranking

In 2009, Victoria Azarenka finished the year with a top 10 singles ranking, marking the beginning of a consistent period of high performance.

2009: Victory at Cincinnati and win against Wozniacki

In 2009, Victoria Azarenka won her first match at Cincinnati since 2009, defeating Vania King. She then defeated Caroline Wozniacki, her first victory against her since 2009 and Jelena Janković, to reach the final, where she defeated Serena Williams to win her third title of the year.

2009: French Open Quarterfinal Loss

In 2010, Victoria Azarenka was defeated in the first round of the French Open, causing her to drop to world No. 15 due to her quarterfinal appearance in 2009.

2009: Wimbledon Quarterfinal

Victoria Azarenka was defending quarterfinal points from 2009 and lost to eventual semifinalist Petra Kvitová in the third round, and this defeat dropped Azarenka to world No. 18.

2010: 2010 Quarterfinals

In 2010, Azarenka played Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. Azarenka won the first set and led in the second, but Williams came back to win the three-set match and the title.

2010: Serena Williams wins Wimbledon

In 2010, Serena Williams won Wimbledon before Azarenka became the first world No. 1 to win a Major in 2013.

2010: First WTA Tour Final Win Against Sharapova

In 2010, Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova in the final of the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, winning her first title of the year.

2010: WTA Tour Championships Semifinals

In 2010, Victoria Azarenka reached the semifinals of the WTA Tour Championships.

2010: Multiple Victories Over Bartoli

In 2010, Victoria Azarenka won all four matches against Marion Bartoli.

2010: First Victory Over Li Na

In 2010, Victoria Azarenka won her first match against Li Na in the third round of the Rogers Cup.

2011: First Double Bagel on Clay Since 2011

During the clay-court season, Victoria Azarenka had a win over Sofia Kenin that was the tenth double bagel in her career, and her first on clay since 2011.

2011: Grand Slam Losses and WTA Tour Championships Victory

In 2011, Li Na defeated Victoria Azarenka at two Grand Slam matches. Azarenka won their third meeting at the WTA Tour Championships en route to reaching the final.

2011: First Loss to Bartoli

In 2011, Marion Bartoli won her first match against Victoria Azarenka in Eastbourne after Azarenka retired with an injury. Bartoli also upset Azarenka at the WTA Tour Championships.

2011: Rogers Cup and US Open

In 2011, Serena Williams defeated Victoria Azarenka in straight sets at the Rogers Cup and the US Open after William's ranking had dropped following Wimbledon.

2011: Second Miami Masters Title

In 2011, Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova in the Miami Masters final to win her second title at that tournament.

2011: Acapulco International Event Withdrawal

In 2011, Victoria Azarenka played her first 250-point International event since 2011 in Acapulco, Mexico, withdrawing after a first-round win over Polona Hercog.

2011: Australian Open and Fed Cup

In 2011, Victoria Azarenka reached the quarterfinals of the Medibank International, losing to Kim Clijsters, and the fourth round of the Australian Open, losing to Li Na. She also participated in Fed Cup, where Belarus qualified for the World Group II play-Offs.

2011: US Open and Pan Pacific Open

In 2011, Victoria Azarenka reached the third round of the US Open, losing to Serena Williams, and the semifinals of the Pan Pacific Open, losing to Agnieszka Radwańska, qualifying for the year-end championships in Istanbul. She withdrew from the China Open due to a right foot strain.

2011: WTA Finals Runner-Up

In 2011, Victoria Azarenka was the runner-up at the WTA Finals, losing to Petra Kvitová.

2011: 2011 French Open Title

In 2011, the text mentions that Li Na had won the 2011 French Open.

January 2012: Top Two Women in the World

From January 2012 to January 2013, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova ranked as the top two women in the world, except for a brief period in July and August when Agnieszka Radwańska was world No. 2.

January 2012: Australian Open Victory and World No. 1 Ranking

In January 2012, Victoria Azarenka won the Australian Open, defeating Maria Sharapova in the final, and became the world No. 1, marking her first Grand Slam singles title.

August 2012: 2012 Summer Olympics

In August 2012, Victoria Azarenka participated in the 2012 Summer Olympics tennis event held at Wimbledon. She won the bronze medal in women's singles and the gold medal in mixed doubles with Max Mirnyi for Belarus, defeating Andy Murray and Laura Robson of Great Britain.

2012: End of Azarenka-Bartoli Rivalry

From 2007 to 2012, Victoria Azarenka and Marion Bartoli played 12 times, with Azarenka leading the head-to-head 9-3 overall and 1-0 in Grand Slams.

2012: Multiple Losses to Serena Williams

In 2012, Azarenka and Serena Williams played five times, with Williams winning each match, including the Madrid Masters final, Wimbledon semifinals, Olympics semifinals, US Open final, and the year-end championships round-robin stage.

2012: Loss to Bartoli Ends Winning Streak

In 2012, Marion Bartoli defeated Victoria Azarenka in the Miami quarterfinals, snapping Azarenka's 26-match winning streak. Azarenka later avenged the loss by winning against Bartoli in the China Open semi-finals.

2012: Australian Open Victory and World No. 1 Ranking

In 2012, Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova in the final of the Australian Open, becoming the first player from her country to win a Grand Slam singles title and claim the world No. 1 ranking. She also won against Sharapova in two further finals at Indian Wells, and Beijing. However, Sharapova won in the final of the 2012 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Their two non-finals were split, Azarenka winning at the US Open and Sharapova winning at the year-end championships.

2012: US Open Runner-Up

In 2012, Victoria Azarenka finished as the runner-up at the US Open, losing to Serena Williams.

2012: Season Achievements and Records

In 2012, Victoria Azarenka set a new record for single-season prize money, earning $7.9 million. She also ended the season with a 69–10 win–loss record and secured six titles, showcasing a dominant performance throughout the year.

2012: Azarenka Wins All Meetings Against Li Na

In 2012, Victoria Azarenka won all three matches against Li Na, including the final of the Sydney International, and meetings at Madrid and the year-end championships.

2012: Qatar Open Win and BNP Paribas Open Win

In 2012, Victoria Azarenka won her third title of the year at the Qatar Open, defeating Sam Stosur, and won the BNP Paribas Open, defeating Maria Sharapova. She withdrew from the Dubai Championships due to an ankle injury. Her 26-match win streak ended in the quarters of the Sony Ericsson Open in a loss against Marion Bartoli.

2012: Australian Open and Year-End No. 1

In 2012, Victoria Azarenka won the Australian Open and became the year-end No. 1, as ranked by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).

2012: Olympic Gold Medal in Mixed Doubles

In 2012, Victoria Azarenka won the Olympic gold medal in mixed doubles at the London Olympics with Max Mirnyi.

2012: 2012 Australian Open Title

In 2012, the text mentions that Victoria Azarenka had one Grand Slam Title- the 2012 Australian Open.

January 2013: Top Two Women in the World

January 2013: Red Bull Sponsorship

In January 2013, Red Bull signed a sponsorship deal with Victoria Azarenka, making her the first tennis player to be sponsored by the beverage and sports investment company.

2013: End of Azarenka-Li Na Rivalry

From 2008 to 2013, Victoria Azarenka and Li Na played 11 times. Azarenka led the head-to-head 6-5 overall, and 2-1 in championship matches, but trailed 1-2 in Grand Slam matches.

2013: Loss at 2013 WTA Tour Championships

In 2013, Azarenka lost to her opponent in straight sets at the WTA Tour Championships, struggling with a back injury.

2013: First Grand Slam Loss to Sharapova

In 2013, Maria Sharapova defeated Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals of the French Open, marking the first time Sharapova had beaten Azarenka at a Grand Slam.

2013: 2013 Australian Open Final

In 2013, Victoria Azarenka and Li Na met in the Australian Open final, both holding one Grand Slam title. Azarenka won the match in three sets after Li Na sustained injuries, successfully defending her Australian Open title. This victory also made Azarenka the first world No. 1 to win a Major since Serena Williams in 2010.

2013: Second Victory Over Williams

In 2013, Victoria Azarenka defeated Serena Williams in the final of the Qatar Total Open in three sets, marking only her second victory over Williams in a WTA Tour match. Later that year, Williams won against Azarenka at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

2013: Unsuccessful Asian Swing and WTA Tour Championships Performance

In 2013, Victoria Azarenka experienced an unsuccessful Asian swing, losing to Venus Williams in Tokyo and to Andrea Petkovic in Beijing. Her 2013 season concluded with a poor performance at the WTA Tour Championships, where she won only one of her three-round robin matches.

2013: US Open Finals Appearance

In 2013, Victoria Azarenka reached the US Open final, but lost to Osaka.

2013: US Open Runner-Up Again

In 2013, Victoria Azarenka was again the runner-up at the US Open, losing to Serena Williams for the second consecutive year.

2013: Victory at Western & Southern Open

In 2013, Victoria Azarenka won her 18th WTA title at the Western & Southern Open, her first since 2013 Western & Southern Open .

2014: Loss to Williams in Brisbane and US Open

In 2014, Serena Williams defeated Victoria Azarenka in the Brisbane International final, marking Azarenka's first loss at the tournament. Williams also won against Azarenka in the US Open final, which required three sets.

2014: Injury-Plagued Season and Ranking Decline

Victoria Azarenka's 2014 season was significantly affected by a foot injury, causing her to miss five months and end her season early in September. She reached one final in Brisbane, losing to Serena Williams. She ended 2014 ranked world No. 32, her lowest since 2006.

2015: End of Azarenka-Sharapova Rivalry

From 2007 to 2015, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova played 15 times. Sharapova led the head-to-head 8-7 overall, but Azarenka led 2-1 in the Grand Slams and 5-1 in finals.

2015: Losses to Williams Despite Match Points

In 2015, Azarenka lost to Serena Williams in the third round of the Madrid Open in three sets, despite holding match points. At the French Open, she lost after leading by a set and a break, and at Wimbledon, she lost in three sets after being one set up.

2015: Sharapova Wins in Indian Wells

In 2015, Maria Sharapova defeated Victoria Azarenka in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in straight sets.

2015: Brisbane International and Australian Open Performance

In 2015, Victoria Azarenka started the season at the Brisbane International, losing to Karolína Plíšková, despite having match points. She reached the fourth round at the Australian Open, defeating Caroline Wozniacki, but lost to Dominika Cibulková.

2016: Wimbledon Performance and Mixed-Doubles Event

At Wimbledon 2016, Victoria Azarenka defeated CiCi Bellis, Elena Vesnina and Heather Watson, before being defeated by Simona Halep in the fourth round. She also teamed up with Nenad Zimonjic in mixed-doubles, losing in the first round.

2016: Best Result Since 2016 at Australian Open

At the Australian Open in 2022, Victoria Azarenka reached the fourth round which was her best result since 2016.

2016: Fourth Win Against Serena Williams

In 2016, Victoria Azarenka defeated Serena Williams in the final of the Indian Wells Open, becoming the first player to defeat Serena four times in a final.

2016: Quarterfinal at the Australian Open

In 2016, Victoria Azarenka reached the quarterfinal at the Australian Open.

2016: Sunshine Double Winner

In 2016, Victoria Azarenka won the Sunshine Double, a prestigious achievement in tennis.

2016: Western & Southern Open Title Victory

In 2016, Victoria Azarenka won the Western & Southern Open title via walkover after Naomi Osaka withdrew, marking her first WTA singles title since the 2016 Miami Open and since giving birth to her son.

January 2017: Highest Ranking Since January 2017

Following the 2020 US Open, Victoria Azarenka's ranking rose to No. 14, her highest ranking since January 2017.

April 2018: Return to Tour

In April 2018, Victoria Azarenka returned to the tour, competing in Europe.

November 2018: Reunited with Wim Fissette

In November 2018, Victoria Azarenka reunited with Wim Fissette as her coach.

December 2019: Fissette Becomes Osaka's Coach

In December 2019, Wim Fissette, Victoria Azarenka's coach, left to coach Naomi Osaka.

2019: Serena Wins in Indian Wells

In 2019, Serena Williams defeated Victoria Azarenka in the second round of the Indian Wells Open in two tight sets.

February 2020: Dorian Descloix Hired as New Coach

In February 2020, Victoria Azarenka announced Dorian Descloix as her new coach.

2020: First Grand Slam Victory Against Williams

In 2020, Victoria Azarenka defeated Serena Williams in the US Open semifinal in three sets, marking her first victory against Williams in a Grand Slam tournament.

2020: US Open Runner-Up

In 2020, Victoria Azarenka finished as runner-up at the US Open, losing to Naomi Osaka.

2020: Monterrey Open Loss and Tournament Suspension

In 2020, Victoria Azarenka lost in the first round of the Monterrey Open to Tamara Zidanšek. She then withdrew from Indian Wells, before the WTA Tour was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 2021: Azarenka Splits with Coach

In October 2021, Victoria Azarenka split from her coach Dorian Descloix, choosing to work with Maxime Tchoutakian instead.

2021: Grampians Trophy Participation and Withdrawal

In 2021, Victoria Azarenka played at the Grampians Trophy, defeating Yulia Putintseva, but withdrew before her quarterfinal match due to a lower back injury.

2021: Wimbledon and US Open Performances

In 2021, at Wimbledon, Victoria Azarenka defeated Kateryna Kozlova but lost to Sorana Cîrstea. She reached her first Masters WTA 1000 quarterfinal for the season at the National Bank Open in Canada. At the US Open, she lost to Garbiñe Muguruza in the third round.

March 2022: Statement on Ukraine Invasion

In March 2022, Victoria Azarenka released a statement on Twitter expressing her heartbreak and dismay concerning the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, aided by Belarus, emphasizing the importance of compassion and support between Ukrainian and Belarusian people.

2022: 2022 Season Overview

In 2022, Azarenka reached the round of 16 at the Madrid Open and Italian Open. She skipped grass-court tournaments due to Wimbledon's ban. At the US Open, she reached the fourth round. She reached the semifinals at the Guadalajara Open, losing to Jessica Pegula.