Staying power: Azarenka hits milestone as player with most WTA 1000 match wins

Tuesday, 08 August 2023 at 19:35

Victoria Azarenka made history by becoming the player with the most WTA 1000 match wins after defeating Magda Linette at the Canadian Open.

Adding another milestone to her career, the former world No. 1 secured her place in the second round of the National Bank Montreal Open. The 34-year-old Belarusian showcased her tennis prowess by overpowering the Polish player and world No. 25 Magda Linette with a commanding score of 6-3, 6-0.

Azarenka's victory marked her 187th triumph in WTA 1000 tournaments since the format was introduced in 2009. With this achievement, she surpassed the former world No. 1 Simona Halep, who held the previous record of 186 wins.

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The list of top WTA 1000 match winners includes other active players who are likely to continue accumulating victories, even this week. The third spot is occupied by the recent WTA 1000 Miami Open champion Petra Kvitova, followed by Danish player Caroline Wozniacki, who is making her return to the tour after more than three years.

During a press conference, Azarenka was asked about her remarkable accomplishment, but she expressed her surprise as she was unaware of the statistic.

"Oh, yeah? Wow! Well, I think that stat clearly says that I love to play big events. You know, even with Grand Slams in Australia I think I reached 150 matches or something like that. So I do love a big stage."

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Azarenka has clinched ten WTA 1000 titles throughout her career, with her first victory at the 2009 Miami Open and her most recent at the 2020 Cincinnati Open.

The Belarusian reminisced about this latest triumph as something particularly special, although she mistakenly mentioned the wrong year (in 2021, she only reached the third round).

"A specific run? I have terrible memory since I became a mom, but one of those runs in Cincinnati in 2021 was pretty amazing for me. Coming back after a long break - everybody had a long break, but I had a longer break, and I was at the point where I didn't know if I was going to play really again."

"I had a pretty big beat-down by Venus the tournament before that, so I wasn't discouraged, but I was, like, oh, my God. I have lost four or five matches in a row, and it never really happened in my career before."

Azarenka will face off against American player Sloane Stephens in the second round, who advanced by defeating Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina in the first round with a score of 6-4, 7-6(2).

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187 - Victoria Azarenka is now the player with the most wins in WTA-1000 events since the introduction of the format in 2009 (187, surpassing Simona Halep). Leader. #OBN23 | @WTA_insider @WTA @OBNmontreal

10:25 PM · Aug 7, 2023

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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