A new approach for Victoria Azarenka

After losing her third-round match to Flavia Pennetta in Dubai in February, squandering a service break in the third set, a frustrated Victoria Azarenka considered giving up tennis "for a second. A really slight second".

The moment passed with the help of her mother, Alla, who presumably said something along the lines of "are you mad?" Two months later Azarenka has won another big tournament and is ranked No 6 in the world, equalling her career high.

The 21-year-old Belarusian wrapped up the Sony Ericsson Open title by rolling over Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-4, this after victories over both Kim Clijsters and Vera Zvonareva.

Azarenka has been something of a polarising figure, even at her young age, known as much for her temper and piercing shrieks as for her powerful baseline game.

Pam Shriver, the analyst, once complained that Azarenka's screams, sometimes rendered in print as "ay-eee!" were still in the ears of competitors even as they were returning her shots.

She also has been criticised for outbursts of anger, such as when Azarenka told an umpire at Wimbledon that she was "ruining the match" with bad decisions.

That Azarenka is still out there slugging is a wise decision, whether it is hers or her mother's. This is a pregnant moment in the history of the women's game, a time when the absence of the Williams sisters and the retirement of Justine Henin would seem to open avenues for advancement among the younger set, such as Carolina Wozniacki, the world No 1.

The opportunity is there for upwardly mobile starlets of Azarenka's ilk.

She said a new approach to the game is behind her recent gains. "I changed my mentality a bit. I'm enjoying myself so much on the court that there's no room for frustration. People want to see me emotional, but this is how I am right now. I just don't care if I lose. I'm just there to do the best I can.

"What I mean by not caring about losing is just not creating such a big drama out of it. If you lose, you lose. It's not the end of the world. It sounds a bit out there, but … we're here playing tennis, being able to do something we love. So why make a big deal out of it?"

Azarenka has room for improvement. Her forehand can be a problem, and her serve lacks both power and consistency. She is tall enough at 5ft 11ins (1.80m) that she ought to be able to generate more pace on her serve, which could help make up for her lack of foot speed and mobility.

And, then, it isn't like the women's top 10 is clotted with former grand slam champions, which her mother must have noted during that moment of doubt in Dubai.

poberjuerge@thenational.ae