Trophy in hand for the first time in 29 months, Victoria Azarenka sat inside Pat Rafter Arena not sure how she felt to win a title again on the WTA Tour.
Elated? Happy? Over the moon? Actually, she said, she’s just satisfied being healthy, and playing good – no, great – tennis on the court.
“How I feel off the court is just the same,” the world No.22 said, shrugging.
But the title made her realise the struggles she went through in 2014 (an ankle injury) and again last year (left thigh injury) were all worth it.
Now she hopes this season is where she turns the page on a new chapter in her career.
“I just feel really excited and happy that I’m doing the right things. I’m excited to keep working hard. (It) just gives me extra motivation to keep working hard and achieve better things. When you’re (going in) the right direction, I think it’s kind of cool.”
“Cool” comes after playing red-hot tennis for the past week at the Queensland Tennis Centre. Azarenka went about her business this week one shot, point, game, set and match at a time.
In turn, that approach gave her a first title since Cincinnati in 2013. She lost just 17 games all week, a tournament record that ties Serena Williams’ effort in 2013 and vaults Azarenka to favourite status alongside the American world No.1 when the Australian Open gets started in less than 10 days’ time.
“I try to stay and play point by point and focus on what I can do that particular moment and not really look at the score,” she said. “I think that was pretty good help for me.”
It was seven years ago that Azarenka, at the age of 19, won her first WTA Tour title here in Brisbane. Since then she has become a world No.1, won two Australian Opens and been pegged as the only player on tour that can go toe-to-toe with Serena on a consistent basis.
The frustration of the past two and a half years then might get a lesser player or person down, but Azarenka claimed to be unfazed by it all.
Saturday night she invited a young fan named Steph on to the court with her after the win, a girl who she had noticed at her matches earlier in the week and whom she offered tickets to for the final.
“If I can make a kid happy with her coming to my match and supporting me, there is nothing better for me,” the Belarusian said. “It’s more important than the trophy right here.”
Yet that trophy – and Vika’s growing confidence – are important for her 2016 prospects, particularly in Melbourne, where she has been most lethal in the past.
Is this a comeback? A new Vika of sorts?
“I don’t really call it comeback,” she replied. Then, thinking further: “I just flip the page. I think that’s exciting. I can’t wait to read the next page.”