(VIDEO) Victoria Azarenka claps back at coach during Rome Open quarterfinals against Collins

WTA
Thursday, 16 May 2024 at 14:02
screenshot 2024 05 15 at 223512
The two Quarter-Finals at the Rome Open in the WTA Draw on Wednesday did not disappoint. In particular Danielle Collins facing Victoria Azarenka and the latter certainly was left frustrated in defeat as she showed in clapping back at her coach.
After come on was shouted from her box, Azarenka stopped as she was about to receive to serve and looked dead straight at her box and shouted 'what do you want me to come on'. Her coach as the original poster on social media put looked lost as he sat there after feeling the brunt of the former World No.1.
A match between two players who leave everything on court both in terms of their tennis, celebrating and also showing how they feel. It certainly wasn't a pedestrian affair as Collins went on to win 6-4, 6-3. Her superb streak continues and Aryna Sabalenka now awaits.
Azarenka now moves on to Roland Garros after another superb run. After spending part of last season not in any form at all, the former World No.1 has recaptured it once more ahead of the French Open. She defeated Magda Linette 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 to open the tournament before also defeating Mayar Sherif in three sets in the second round. But her big win came against Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-1. The Greek ever since switching coaches and reaching the final of Indian Wells has been playing superbly.
But she was easily beaten by a resurgent Azarenka who always seems to find a way when the chips are down to return to form even through a slump. Even back to the Sunshine Double, she reached the Miami semi-final and also performed in Charleston losing out to Jessica Pegula. But also this run as of late has highlighted some inconsistencies to her game. She lost early in Madrid to Sara Sorribes Tormo but of course addressed that in Rome. But it seems to very much be stop start for the multiple Grand Slam champion. What version turns up at the French Open remains to be seen. But it seems like her coach isn't hugely in the good books after this incident.
Tennis fans hit out at Azarenka for her reaction saying that she shouldn't blame and abuse her coach. While others called the match as a whole, the Olympics of Bad Behaviour with Collins though instead jousting with the crowd. She lifted her arms aloft during the tie as a come on to the fans who were jeering her. She then blew a kiss to the crowd after defeating Azarenka. The crowd has received some semblance of criticism this past week.
The Novak Djokovic incident for instance sent debate into overdrive and also the Sebastian Korda moment where he hit back at the crowd for shouting abuse about his girlfriend highlighted some issues. But in Collins v Azarenka, it was semi-expected anyway due to their on-court personas. Now Collins moves on, Azarenka will think what if as another tournament has a good run without the end product that her opponent has achieved as of late.

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