Victoria Azarenka survived a six hour rain delay at the
Charleston Open to ease past Elisabetta Cocciaretto and continue her superb form as of late and reached the third round.
The No.1`2 seed joined the Tennis Channel desk with a special guest in tow in her seven year old son Leo who made his interview debut on Tennis Channel in a show stealing moment.
“I started really solid, played really aggressive," Azarenka said to Tennis Channel after the 70-minute match. "I didn't let her dictate, put my foot on the pedal and didn’t really take it off. When it was important moments, I really stepped it up."
Asked about how he felt to be on Tennis Channel for the first time, he simply said. “Mom won, so I like that!” he told Steve Weissman. "My mom was just heart and she didn't give up."
Leo also reiterated their motto that he shares with his mother: “Effort is non-negotiable." The pair have travelled the WTA Tour together for a number of years after she gained custody of her son. Leo joins her after successful runs in Indian Wells and Miami. Next up for Azarenka is Taylor Townsend who dumped out Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Victoria Azarenka (pictured) continues on from her semi-final run at the Miami Open.
Azarenka gets added motivation from son being there
Having returned to the sport after becoming a mother and achieving so much success prior, Azarenka said that it is a juggling act but one that brings her confidence and momentum.
"He has school now, so it's a bit more challenging, but we try to pick trips ... Leo said, 'I want to go somewhere where I haven't been,'" Azarenka continued. "So we did the Middle East trip this year, which was really cool. He said that Doha is better than the Bahamas for him!
"It's really amazing for Leo to, first of all, come to my matches. I used to be really nervous for him to be out here, but now I feel like, he's watching me, hopefully gets a little inspired for his sports.
"It gives also extra motivation for me to cheer, to try harder -- not that I need it, but I do appreciate the ability that he's able to watch me at work."