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Victoria Azarenka of Belarus reacts in the third set during her women’s singles final match against Naomi Osaka of Japan on day 13 of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 12, 2020 in the Queens borough of the New York City . Al Bello / Getty Images / AFP
A rejuvenated Victoria Azarenka says she will continue to push for Grand Slam titles after finishing runner-up at the US Open, driven by a more relaxed outlook on life.
The two-time Slam winner lost to Japan’s Naomi Osaka in three sets at Flushing Meadows on Saturday in her first appearance in a tennis major final in seven years.
Many commentators thought the former world number, now 31, was made at Grand Slams after his career was cut short first by injury and then by a custody battle for his son, who was born in December 2016.
But the unseeded Belarusian enjoyed a fairytale run to the final at the US National Tennis Center, which included a three-set loss to former enemy Serena Williams in the semi-finals.
“I had a great two weeks. I enjoy it myself. I did everything I could today, ”said Azarenka, a 2012 and 2013 Australian Open winner.
“I am not necessarily disappointed. It is painful to lose. That is what it is. I was close. But it didn’t turn out the way I wanted, ”he added.
Azarenka raced to the 1-0 lead after beating Osaka 6-1 in just 26 minutes.
A combination of impressive serve and formidable returns was reminiscent of the form that gave him two Grand Slam titles in his prime.
‘Proud’
It was Azarenka’s first appearance in a Grand Slam championship match since losing to Serena Williams in the final of the 2013 US Open.
He also suffered a heartbreaking loss to Williams in 2012 at Flushing Meadows, when he served the match 5-3 in the third set only to lose 7-5.
Azarenka says she is benefiting from a new perspective on life, in contrast to her younger years when all that mattered was winning tennis matches.
“I feel like I enjoyed the way I am on the court more,” Azarenka said, comparing Saturday’s match to her previous appearances in the Slam final.
“Not necessarily focused on the result, but focused on your progress, being in the moment, accepting the difficult moments, the difficult challenges,” he said.
Azarenka, who was seen meditating during breaks at the US Open, says it is less intense than it used to be, and blamed on her pre-tunnel vision state of mind.
“When you’re young, you have some not-so-good people around you, they just put, like, this tunnel vision. Don’t look to the right, don’t look to the left, ”Azarenka explained.
“You are losing the meaning of life. You are becoming this focused machine as a tennis player.
“So I can feel more satisfied off the tennis court, on the tennis court. I think it is a real success.
“I will take that any day on top of tennis results. I think it’s a much bigger achievement for me on a personal level, ”he added.
Azarenka added that she hoped better education and guidance could help rising stars better navigate their newfound fame.
She said she was “proud” of how she had put herself mentally and physically to the test in New York and would continue to pursue her third Slam title, starting with the French Open later this month.
“I thought the third time is a sweetheart, but I have to try again. That’s what I’m going to do, ”he said smiling.
Azarenka will now pick up the momentum that he has generated over the last few weeks on the reprogrammed European ground swing.
She has a wild card to play in Rome, where she plays Venus Williams in her first match, before the French Open.
“I really want to play on clay,” he said. “It’s going to be a quick change, but it’s going to be fun.”
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