THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2023

Victoria Azarenka

Press Conference

V. AZARENKA/D. Kasatkina

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Initial thoughts on today's match, please.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: I felt like today was my best performance this tournament. I played very solid from the beginning to the end.

It was a lot of really interesting rallies, quite a lot of variety today that I was able to use in my match.

Was real proud of my movement. I thought it really picked up from the beginning of the tournament. Yeah, was happy to finish in two sets. Different weather today. Was quite interesting to adjust.

Yeah, happy with today's match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I will pivot to the next match. Since the potential opponents haven't played yet I will just ask about the two individuals separately. Let's say, for argument's sake, Svitolina, a person you have played five times and done really well against. What are your thoughts of her coming back as you did from having a baby and the state of her game right now?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, I'm very happy for her that, you know, she had this incredible experience of going through this incredible experience of having a family and the ability to come back actually very quickly on tour. Already pick up her game at the very high level.

I haven't been seeing too many of her matches, but obviously the results are there and that are showing that she's able to play against top players and winning matches.

So I also feel like -- I mean, I can't speak for her, but it seems like she's playing with not so much pressure, you know, just kind of coming back and just gaining points and everything. Seems that she's doing really well.

So I'm very happy to see her on the tour again and playing well. If we get to play, it will be an exciting match like we always have.

Q. What do you remember most of your matchups with her when you have done so well?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, she's a very big fighter. I know it's not going to be easy match. I feel like there is two sides of the story always. When you know somebody there's no surprises but they kind of know your game as well.

So I know she's a very good mover. She has a great return. I have to watch a little bit of her matches. Maybe she learned some new tricks since coming back (smiling).

So I have to, yeah, take a bit of a look.

Q. Kenin is a player you have played against not as many times as Svitolina. What are your thoughts on her, looking as though she's rounding back into form, maybe the form that she had when she made the big run at Australia, and the state of her game right now?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: I played against her at Australian Open. I had a really tough first round. I feel like she's playing really, really well. She obviously has some ups and downs.

It's also good to see her coming back. She's done it the hard way. She went through quallies and here in the third round already. I watched her play against Coco first round, and it was really good match. It was very high quality.

She knows that she can play at the really high level. She already played that, being a Grand Slam champion and a finalist of a Grand Slam on different surfaces.

So it's going to be tricky. Her game is quite I think suitable for grass, actually. She plays a lot of low, flat balls, with the timing.

So honestly, either matchup is going to be very challenging and very interesting in a different way.

Q. I'm from South America. You're kind of idol of many young players coming up in South America.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Thank you.

Q. I would like to know how you manage to train every day having the child, your motherhood. How do you manage when you wake up and do your routines?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, it has changed quite a bit throughout years. My son is six-and-a-half years old now, and he started school, so I have a little bit of free time once I drop him off to school during the day.

But for me the biggest challenge, I would say, was an emotional attachment is kind of carrying that guilt of having time for myself and plan my day to be sometimes a little bit selfish. I had a feeling that I don't want to miss out on really anything when he's growing up.

So that was kind of the most challenging part. I'm very privileged person that I have the ability to have help. Maybe not everybody has that, but I have. So I have had help with nannies, with my family, and, you know, they have been my support group through that.

So now my son wants to come to my matches (smiling). It's still a bit of a hard feeling for me, because I get a bit distracted. I have tried that in 's-Hertogenbosch, and it was very awesome moment to share, but at the same time it kind of takes me a bit, you know, into my mom mode too much rather than being a tennis player.