Azarenka seeks auspicious start to 'challenging' season
World No 1 Victoria Azarenka and Chinese ace Li Na will battle it out in an exhibition in Hua Hin today, seeking momentum for the Australian Open, 2013's first grand slam.
Azarenka, who vanquished then world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki in Hua Hin last year before going on to claim her first major, in Melbourne, will be hoping to repeat that pattern when she faces the 2011 French Open winner today at 5pm at the Centennial Park. In 2010 Kim Clijsters won her first Australian Open right after winning here against the Dane.
“Last year was the highlight year of my career. I’m really happy to be back and hope to have another good year starting in Hua Hin again. I remember they were talking about Kim, so I thought maybe it would bring me some luck as well,” said Azarenka, who rose early yesterday to give alms to monks on the beach along with her companion RedFoo, the US rapper who’s one half of duo LMFAO.
“It’s the only reason that I would wake up that early. It’s really worth it. It’s a great experience and the second time I have done that. It’s something I’ve never done anywhere else. It’s very special,” said the Belarussian of the almsgiving. She has also grabbed the chance to improve her skills on a jetski.
“I practised jetskiing last week to make sure that when there were cameras in front of me, I had some good moves. It paid off,” said Azarenka, who leads Li Na 54 in their headtohead record on the circuit.
“I want to beat Vika here and go on to win the Australian Open,” said Li who also had an early start yesterday, waking at 4.30am to catch a flight from China to Thailand. She prepared for her Thai trip by watching new Chinese blockbuster “Lost In Thailand”, which was filmed here and tells the story of a group of Chinese visitors to the Kingdom.
“It’s a very popular movie in China right now. I just saw it two days ago.
It was unbelievable … funny from beginning to end. Because I have been to Thailand many times, I know about Thailand a bit more. But it’s still exciting to come here,” said Li, Asia’s first Grand Slam singles champion.
Both women were due to display their offcourt talents last night in the fashion Cruise Collection Orchestra of Thai Silk. They were scheduled to strut the catwalk last among 30 models wearing Thai silk dresses by designer Prapakas.
“I don’t know about modelling. We will just walk. You will have to judge if we are models or not,” said Azarenka, whose 2013 goals include beating form player Serena Williams who has only lost once since last summer’s Wimbledon. Azarenka lost to Serena in a gutwrenching US Open final after failing to serve out for the title at 54 in the final set.
“The Grand Slams are the big push, everybody will try to pick up [their game] at that moment. Definitely, Serena is the biggest challenge this year as well as [chal
