Published 02/21/2023, 8:10 PM EST
Former world no.1 Victoria Azarenka is currently in Dubai for the WTA Tournament. It is here that she answered questions about the retirement of her fellow athletes in her generation. With many of her compatriots reaching retirement age, Azarenka was asked whether it felt like she was missing out on seeing some of her best friends leave the sport. Her response is unexpected and genuine at best.
Azarenka explains that while she certainly thinks about her fellow athletes and their retirements, she respects their decisions to move on. She expressed her happiness for them and their new ventures in life, even if it meant saying goodbye to the tennis court. For Azarenka, the decision to retire is a personal one, and she respects the choices that her peers make.
Victoria Azarenka sees life as something bigger than a tennis court
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Azarenka’s made her professional debut in 2003 with the ITF Junior Circuit. Since then, she has made so many friends on and off the court. However, she does not want them to hold themselves back from the next step in life.
“I don’t really miss many people,” she said. She explains her stance when she says, “I feel like they’re making the choice for them, and I’m happy for them whatever it is that they do. I’ve built a lot of great relationships and friendships on the tour.”
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 09: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus looks up to the stands following her defeat to Serena Williams of the United States in the women’s singles final match on Day Fourteen of the 2012 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2012 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The former world no. 1 also noted that injuries can force athletes into retirement. However, fortunately, she hasn’t seen too many cases of that happening in her generation.
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In talking about how excited she gets for her colleagues’ ventures, she revealed something about her nature. Turns out, Azarenka has never been the one to think of life in a single aspect.
“It’s easier to connect obviously now through social media, through technology, so it’s very cool to see other parts of their life. I’ve always been the type of person who sees life as much bigger than tennis. In that way, it doesn’t make me miss them. It makes me excited about what people are doing.”
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Azarenka feels fortunate to have built strong relationships and friendships throughout her career, and she sees retirement as a natural part of life. While she did hint at possible retirement plans for herself in 2022, there has not been any further indication that she may be thinking about it.
However, there is one person she misses
While Azarenka doesn’t necessarily miss her retiring peers, she does admit to missing Gael Monfils, a close friend and fellow player. She hopes to see him on the court soon, and she’s excited to see a new generation of players coming up through the ranks.
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Azarenka’s attitude toward retirement is refreshing. She sees it as a natural part of life, as the inevitable next step. For her, it’s not about missing people, but about being excited about what they’ll do next. It’s a healthy mindset that can help athletes navigate the challenges of retirement and embrace the new opportunities that life has to offer.
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