Victoria Azarenka once was a fixture in the business end of Grand Slams and but for great rival Serena Williams would have more than two Australian Opens in her collection.
From the 2011 French Open until the 2014 Australian Open the Belarussian reached the quarter-final stage at least in 10 Grand Slam tournaments, winning in Australia in 2012 and 2013.
During that period she was a natural adversary for Serena Williams, going toe-to-toe with the American in two classic U.S. Open finals, and finished 2012 as world number one.
Since returning to the game two years ago having taken a maternity break following the birth of son Leo, it has been a struggle for the 29-year-old, on and off the court.
She arrived at Wimbledon having risen back to 40 in the rankings, however, and on the evidence of her first two matches on the London lawns looks destined to go higher.
On Wednesday, she powered past Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2 6-0 in little more than hour, having disposed of Alize Cornet in straight sets in the opening round.
Whatever happens on Friday, however, Azarenka thinks the second chapter of her career can be better than the first.
“I still believe I have my best tennis ahead of me,” she disclosed this at the Mallorca Open” she said.
(NAN)