THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2023

Victoria Azarenka

Press Conference

V. AZARENKA/Y. Yue

6-4, 5-7, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Vika, how was it playing out there today for you?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Was a tough match, definitely. A lot of tricky conditions. Obviously a lot of wind, and was my first match here and my opponent had already a few matches under her belt.

I felt like she was a bit more into the rhythm, and it took me a while to really find the rhythm. Lots of ups and downs, but I'm happy that I went through those ups and downs. Was able to pull out the win and find a way to compete. So I'm very happy with that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. First year back at Wimbledon after obviously not being here last year. How have you found it?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Just like I never left, honestly. It feels good to be playing here. I was excited to go out there for my first round. Definitely some nerves, like before every event, but I was excited to come here. It was great to see some renovations honestly that they have done.

Actually, the whole press room, I was, like, it's a whole new playground. Yeah, happy to be back and hopefully to continue the run.

Q. You just mentioned the word "nerves." Is that a first-round thing for you always every tournament? If so, why is it that somebody who has done as much as you have, has been playing and succeeding as long as you have, still feel nervous?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: I would ask the same question to myself (smiling): Why am I still getting nervous, I guess? Because it means a lot to me. The passion of the game.

Yeah, it's before pretty much every tournament. I think Grand Slams, no doubt, is another level of expectation, motivation, and desire. So I feel probably a lot more.

I have struggled, you know, last few months. So to be able to step by step try to find my rhythm, that's why I'm happy with the win today. It wasn't pretty. It was tough. It was a lot of battle out there and fighting, and I have been missing that a little bit throughout last couple months, so I'm glad that I went through that today.

Q. In our game of tennis, there are lots of rules, lots of traditions and customs.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yeah.

Q. But if you were in charge, if you could change one rule, tradition, custom, what might that be?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Oh, one? You're only giving me one (smiling)?

Honestly, for me, the important part is, to grow our sport, is to be able to have a bit more predictability with the scheduling that it's going to be easier for people to follow. So I feel like if that takes maybe to shorten the matches a little bit and have more, when people come, like, okay, I come to the match, it's going to be from hour and a half to two hours, and then the switch.

So I feel like that will bring a little bit more marketing opportunities, and it will help grow our sport. I know people say, well, lose the five sets and the marathon matches? It's a debatable thing, but from a business standpoint, from growing our sport, I feel like it could be a pretty good one.

I appreciate the nonfull-white rule for the girls. I think that was an important step. I think that's very thoughtful. I don't need to change that (smiling).

I think the traditions are good, but we do want to innovate sometimes, so I think with the rule of scheduling, there will be couple of things that could be adjusted. For me, that would be that one.

Q. How did you find the crowd out there? Because you were not invited last year, were you concerned how it might be at all?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Honestly, it was really nice. People are very nice. I feel like there is an online part of it and there is the aura, and for me personally, I experienced very good treatment.

There are of course some incidents sometimes happens, but I felt like I was very welcomed everywhere. I have been very supported everywhere. And I really appreciate that part.

Today to hear people say, Let's go, Vika, and cheering me on was also why I play, to play in front of the crowd, to put on a good show. So that felt great.

Q. You say "incidents," you didn't mean incidents today?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: No, no, no. I'm saying more -- I'm not saying personally me. I think that we all are aware about some certain situations in other events, not particularly today or here. So I'm making it more of a global observation.

Yeah, I felt very good.

Q. When you just mentioned the online thing, you mentioned there can be criticism online that you're not finding in person today? Is that what you mean?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, I think that it's very easy to hide behind the screen. I think that it's appropriate for any kind of situation, rather than talk to somebody face to face.

I'm the person who only goes straight to the person if I have a problem with somebody, if I have an issue or I want to address. So for me, that always worked. A lot of people don't do that, unfortunately. I think it would have been an easier way to manage the disagreements or agreements.

Q. What does Wimbledon mean to Russia? Is it big over there? Just in terms of the part it plays in culture.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: You do know I'm not from Russia, right?

Q. Yeah, just in terms of being on tour at all, is that something that you have become aware of at all, if it's significant?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: You will have to spill it a bit more directly to me. I'm not understanding the question.

Q. Just in terms of internationally, how you see Wimbledon's culture and how big a tournament you see it across internationally? You have obviously played in Russia in the past. How significant do you feel the tournament is?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Okay, so let me just clarify. You're asking me how big do I feel that Wimbledon is on the international stage? Or what it means to me?

Q. I actually meant on the international stage and just being on tour. It's just a question we were asking around its impact in Russia. This is the first time that Russian players are allowed here this year.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Okay. I will answer the part about international view of Wimbledon, which I don't know if I'm an expert to give you a proper opinion.

Q. It's a poor question, sorry.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yes, it is, but I'll still answer it.

I think on international stage, Wimbledon is undoubtedly one of the biggest tennis events, and it's always been, and it's the oldest tournament in history. So it's iconic. It is iconic.

How it is in Russia, I'm not from Russia, I can't really tell you how it feels in Russia.

THE MODERATOR: Shall we move on.

Q. I'd actually like to ask you a question about one of your rivals, if I could. Venus obviously...

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Oh, I thought you were going to ask me about Caroline because she's coming back. Sorry, go ahead (smiling).

Q. Venus obviously has had a major impact. We know a fair bit about her, public person. Can you just free-form, just suggest what makes her special? Are there any things you can share about her that are unique, how she's impacted the game and so forth?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: I actually have spoken about this with this nice gentleman the other day about it, but for me, Venus and Serena as well changed the women's game and they took it to another level.

It's a bit harder for me to compare to other eras, because I wasn't really there and something that I can't really fully relate, but I played with them when they were already at the top. I watched them when I was growing up. The impact is huge.

The way that Venus comes and fights and still goes after what she wants, it's really admirable. I'm not going to lie. I have asked the same probably questions, but why?

But once you kind of see her on the court, once you see her in the gym, you can see the passion that she's doing it with, and then you're, like, Oh, okay, I get it. She really loves it.

Both of them, Serena and Venus, I feel like they have always had their own road, they chose their own path, they opened doors that probably weren't open for other people earlier.

So to me, it's amazing. To see how at the same time how much they do outside of the tennis court, you know, and the interest -- you don't see it also with a lot of players, how diverse and how open-minded they are with their lives. It's very, very cool to see.

I also take inspiration, like, oh, you kind of have to remind yourself sometimes why do you do things? Because it's so easy to get caught in results and expectations and everything. Then, you know, those moments of like little inspiration I definitely take them for myself, and I'm very happy to see her, first of all, healthy and playing here and for the tournament and for the women's tennis. It's amazing.

Q. There's a chance to wear darker shorts today. Wonder your thoughts on that rule change. Yeah, whether you feel like it's a real benefit to players and takes kind of a load off your mind at the biggest tournament of the year, I guess?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yeah, I think it's a thoughtful addition, very thoughtful addition, because there are obvious situations that can be tricky and uncomfortable.

Yeah, I think that's a pretty appropriate word. It's very thoughtful addition to the rules.