Events 
/ Guy McCrea / 08 March 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Victoria Azarenka has become mentally and physically stronger and is starting to manage her workload better
"Throughout her Australian Open title run, Azarenka exhibited emotional stability she had never shown before at the Slams – even when she got understandably nervous during her semi-final win over defending champion Kim Clijsters."
She's the Australian Open champion, the new World Number One and is on an unbeaten run spanning 17 matches. But what is it that's all of a sudden clicked in Victoria Azarenka's game that's made her the one to beat, asks Guy McCrea.
Seventeen straight match wins. Three titles, including a first Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open. World number one for the first time. It's definitely been the stuff of dreams so far in 2012 for Victoria Azarenka, currently priced around 2.98 favourite on Betfair to win the BNP Paribas Open.
Assessing Azarenka's rise, I like to think back to almost a year ago in Miami. There, Azarenka ripped through a slew of top names to lift her second Sony Ericsson Open title. Entry to the top 5 for the first time and then a maiden Grand Slam semi-final appearance at Wimbledon soon followed. Azarenka later ended her 2011 season with a runner-up finish at the year-end WTA Championships.
My point is that these first couple of months of 2012 - particularly her maiden major title in Melbourne - are simply the culmination of what was likely for some time. And thanks largely to that Grand Slam success, Azarenka already holds a greater acceptance of her status from most general tennis followers than Caroline Wozniacki ever did during her 67 week stay at the WTA summit.
For me, the key factor behind Azarenka's rise is that she is just so much more mentally strong than in the past, when she would often implode and lose matches that should have been won. Throughout her Australian Open title run, Azarenka exhibited emotional stability she had never shown before at the Slams - even when she got understandably nervous during her semi-final win over defending champion Kim Clijsters.
There have also been a couple of key changes in Azarenka's game. She has markedly improved her movement around the court and also hits her groundstrokes with much greater margin now than earlier in her career. Azarenka does still have weapons - her first serve and backhand can be extremely potent - but these changes have allowed her to fully prosper, particularly on the slow hardcourt surfaces which dominate modern professional tennis.
Add to this Azarenka's improved fitness record and you understand why she's reached the top. The Belarusian is clearly stronger and there is also evidence that she and her team are looking to better manage the demands of her playing schedule. Remember, this is a player who retired hurt from almost a third of the tournaments she played during the 2010 season.
Azarenka's withdrawal from Dubai two weeks ago is a good example. Fresh off winning the title in Doha, where she picked up an ankle knock - Azarenka decided she wasn't fit enough to go straight into playing another event the following week. In the past Azarenka's record suggests she may well have played, would have then struggled through a match or two before pulling out, having aggravated the problem.
Now fully fit again and still full of confidence, Azarenka is out to continue her winning streak at Indian Wells, one of the sport's most prestigious events. It is tough to bet against Azarenka on current form. After an opening round bye, she is unlikely to have too much trouble with Mona Barthel in their second round clash. The German is also a young woman on the rise, but she isn't good enough yet to entertain the upset. It has to be Azarenka [1.32] in straight sets.
Beyond that, it is true the world number one is still to show that she can consistently beat her good friend Caroline Wozniacki [11.5] and Petra Kvitova [5.4]. Both have had Azarenka's number in the past - not least Kvitova who beat the Belarusian three times in 2011, including at the WTA Championships final.
But far from being fearful of the prospect, I think Azarenka would fancy the challenge of playing one, or both of them should they meet in the latter stages in California. Kvitova hasn't played since reaching the Australian Open semi-finals and also hasn't proven yet that she can play her best tennis on American hardcourts. There is huge pressure too on Wozniacki, who is defending champion in Indian Wells. The Dane could crash out of the WTA top 5 for the first time since September 2009 if she can't produce another deep run in the desert.
Outside of those two, it is tough to see who else can really challenge Azarenka - especially in the absence of both Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams. Along with her sister Venus, the American has boycotted Indian Wells every year since a controversial incident back in 2001.
Maria Sharapova [7.0] is in decent form, but Azarenka thrashed the Russian in the Australian Open final and thrives in their match-up. There is also Agnieszka Radwanska [13.0] who Azarenka could meet in the quarter finals. The Pole has enjoyed an excellent past six months on the WTA, most recently winning in Dubai to crack the WTA top 5 for the first time. But tellingly, all her three losses so far in 2012 have come at the hands of Azarenka.
Who knows how long she can keep her streak going? But for the moment at least, everything points to a fourth straight WTA title of 2012 for Azarenka next weekend.
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