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Victoria Azarenka

Victoria Azarenka has not lived up to her breakthrough 2009 season, and faces further troubles after being drawn against ex-Eastbourne champion Agnieszka Radwanska in the opening round at the 2010 AEGON International.

And the Belarussian was fined by the 2010 French Open, for failing to attend a news conference following her shock 6-1, 6-2 first round loss defeat to French ace Gisela Dulko. She went to an anti-doping test and then disappeared.

Azarenka had previously reached the quarter-finals at three of the past four Grand Slam tournaments, including 2009 Roland Garros a year ago.

Azarenka started to work with coach Sam Sumyk for 2010, who previously worked Russian Vera Zvonareva, and is part-based in Paris for training as well as Scottsdale, Arizona.

Having captured the 2009 Miami Sony Ericsson Open, Azarenka raced up the world rankings and got as high as no6 but her recent slump has seen her drop out of the world's top 10.

"It's a new learning experience, how to handle myself better because I'm still not at the level I want to be," admitted Azarenka. "One thing is to get to the top 10, and another thing is to stay in there. I'm developing my game, I'm still developing physically and everything.”

But it has been downhill in 2010 with such a dive in form arguably down to her leg injury that she got at April's 2010 Marbella tournament, when she retired injured at the quarter-final stage.

Azarenka said about the injury: "It wasn't just one, it was little bit one leg and then another leg. It was different injuries, just injuries."

Although Azarenka has not won back-to-back matches since Marbella, "Vika" - the other side of Azarenka - seems happy to hang out with ATP Tour player Ernests Gulbis and go shopping with great Dane Caroline Wozniacki.

"I mean, tennis is my career, it's not my life. My life is my family, is my friends, is what I like to do," Azarenka said. "Tennis is just my job, but it's not the most important thing in my life."

"I've been injured and haven't been able to play at my best level. I'm getting healthy now, so that's the important thing," she admitted. "You always have a little bit of bad results, so for me it's important to get ready for Wimbledon."

Reached first round at 2010 French Open.

Chances of winning | Has to face Radwanska in the opening round, a player that she has known well since their junior days. Having suffered a stutter in form during 2010 is not a likely victor over Radwanska and has yet to win a match at Devonshire Park.

2009 AEGON International 

Eastbournetennis.com | 13-20 June

2009 NEWS | 2009 FEATURES | 2009 RESULTS | 2009 ROUND-UP

2009 champion wozniackiFinal

player one result player two
C. WOZNIACKI [6]  7-6, 7.-5
 V. RAZZANO

blog for eastbourne 20092009 Eastbourne tournament | Blog

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