Life’s a beach for Victoria Azarenka — unless her fitness coach is there.
If he is, then expect the 26-year-old to be playing volleyball, throwing an American Football around or dashing here and there in a puff of sand.
The Belorussian invited CNN’s Open Court along to one of her workouts on Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles and we were exhausted just watching.
Athletic ability and stamina is key in tennis, and its importance has grown since Azarenka turned pro over a decade ago.
“When I came on tour you could on one hand the number of players who had a fitness coach traveling with them, and now pretty much everyone does,” she told Open Court.
“Without fitness I don’t think you can go very far in tennis.”
The former world No. 1 has returned to the top-10 after an injury-wrecked 2014 sent her tumbling down the rankings.
The two-time grand slam champion is this week attempting to become the third woman, and first since Kim Clijsters in 2005, to clinch the Indian Wells/Miami “Sunshine Double” in the same year
Once her fitness team impressed upon her the importance of maintaining a high level, Azarenka — who beat Serena Williams in this month’s Indian Wells final and got the better of Garbine Muguruza in the last 16 in Miami Monday — embraced it.
She devises her own yoga routines, mixes up various drills to improve hand-eye coordination and skill level, and has even bought volleyball nets recently “to make sure no one is cheating.”
“The beach is perfect,” she says of the Californian coastal spot. “It’s beautiful weather and the sand is something that is low impact on your body. I’m all about working hard and having fun.”
Such is the focus on fitness, it can form up to 70% of her off-season training program, and done right it can set a player up for a successful year.
“I’m happy — I love what I do,”Azarenka explains. “It sounds cheesy I know but it’s true. I believe I can do whatever I want to do and I’m going to work hard for it.”
