Victoria Azarenka takes positive notes from tough Fed Cup loss in Brisbane
Making her Fed Cup debut against Israel in 2005 at the age of 15, Victoria Azarenka was ready to give her best in every match played in the national jersey, winning 23 out of 30 rubbers in the last 14 years. Missing the action between 2012-14 and again in 2017-18, Vika is back to the Belarusian squad in the current campaign, making it one of the best teams in the world together with other girls that have kept Belarus among the elite group in the last couple of seasons, spending the previous 15 years in Group I. 2017 finalists were off to a great start of the new campaign, toppling Germany 4-0 thanks to Aryna Sabalenka and Aliaksandra Sasnovich, setting the semi-final clash against Australia in Brisbane last weekend, with Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka as the leading figures.
As it turned out, Ashleigh Barty proved to be too strong, carrying the home nation over the finish line after delivering all three points in what was a very tight battle from start to finish. Victoria lost to Barty in straight sets on an opening day and she stormed over Samantha Stosur on Sunday to keep Belarus in contention and set the deciding doubles rubber that Barty and Stosur won over her and Sabalenka with the brilliant performance in the deciding set to propel Australia into the final and leave Belarus empty-handed. Despite the tough loss, Victoria is delighted with the weekend overall and the way she and the rest of the squad competed, giving their best to keep Belarus in contention until the very last point of the final match.
Also, a former Grand Slam champion seems motivated about the future Fed Cup encounters and to be the part of the team in the years to come as well.
"Even though we lost a very tough battle today, I left the court with a smile, not because of the result, but because for me it felt like a start of our special journey! I’m proud of my team, I’m grateful to have this opportunity to play for my country and I’m excited about our future as a team! Thank you ladies! Let’s keep going... this is going to be fun."
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2XzpQNk
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