“As long as I can keep my feet grounded and my head clear”: Azarenka on chances of reaching first Australian Open Quarter-Final in seven years

After a great victory on the second round over the Argentinian Nadia Podoroska by 6-1, 6-0, Victoria Azarenka had to face the 10th seed Madison Keys at the Australian Open.

The Belarusian managed to overcome the service of the American, who considerably lowered her level after taking the first set. The final score was 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 for the two-time Australian Open winner.

Despite the difficult start to the match, the current 24th in the world remained calm and managed to pull off a tough match: “I kept looking at my coach a little bite, not too much, but like he’s going to tell me something magical and all of a sudden everything I going to change. But I told myself, nobody’s going to play for you, you just got to go out and do what you believe is right.”

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The former world No. 1 anticipated her next match in the fourth round, against Chinese player Lin Zhu, and the importance of experience gained during her career: “(the match) is bigger on paper. I’m sure I’ll have feelings, okay, it’s fourth round, it’s a step closer. But I do want to use that experienced.”

“It’s a long road. I’m aware of that. As long as I can keep my feet grounded and my head clear, that’s all it is. But is tempting to think that way, for sure”.

After an outstanding overcoming, Azarenka was asked if she took inspiration from Andy Murray's match the day before: “I take inspiration from anything really. I respect Andy and his grit. It’s very impressive to see how hard he works for what he is.”

“Sometimes question why he does it. I’m not going to lie. I’m like: ‘You’ve got everything. You have kids at home. Why are you still like last year going to Challengers? But it’s his way of doing it.”

Both former world No. 1 have in common that they must balance their lives as parents and professional tennis players: “We were training in the same place actually in the off-season, and I saw how hard he worked. It’s definitely impressive.”