Victoria Azarenka Building an Impressive Team to Aid Return to Superstar Form

Victoria Azarenka scored a monumental get by luring Sascha Bajin, Serena Williams' longtime hitting partner, to her camp.

Bajin is the latest addition to Azarenka's new team, one built to return the two-time Australian Open winner to championship form.

Consider this career relaunch Vika 2.0.

Once a force on the WTA Tour, Azarenka hopes to recapture a place among the game’s elite.

After an injury-riddled season in 2014, Azarenka seemed ready to make a run back to the top in 2015. She arrived in Melbourne with coach Sam Sumyk.

A four-time finalist at the Australian Open, Azarenka was unseeded and a dangerous floater. She defeated Sloane Stephens in the first round and upset No. 8 seed Caroline Wozniacki in the second round. She lost to 2014 finalist Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round.

Shortly after the Australian Open, news broke that Canadian upstart Eugenie Bouchard was working with Sumyk.

News of Sumyk’s new gig came before Azarenka announced a split. Smuyk worked with Azarenka throughout the Australian Open. He could be seen in her player’s box, with customary chin in hand.

Azarenka was competing in Fed Cup play when the news broke. Sumyk worked with Azarenka for five years. His wife is Azarenka’s agent.

She told the New York Times that the split made her sad.

"I never will forget what we achieved together and always will be grateful, but yeah, it was a bit surprising for me...To me, it’s just sad. There’s no other emotion. There’s no anger. There’s no anything else but just sadness, because it’s like a breakup in a way."

In contrast, acquiring Bajin from Williams seems amicable among all parties. Williams, Azarenka and Bajin all joked about the switch via Twitter.

It’s unclear if there is more behind the story of why Bajin and Williams parted. However, Azarenka appears focused and forging ahead in her quest to return to No. 1.

Her revamped team includes Wim Fissette, who coached Kim Clijsters and, more recently, Simona Halep.

Fissette knows something about comebacks. He coached Clijsters in her post-pregnancy returns in 2009 and 2011.

Two years ago, Azarenka was No. 1 and considered the biggest threat to Williams. It was 2013, the year Williams regained the No. 1 ranking, but lost to Azarenka in the finals in Doha. Two of Azarenka's three career wins against Williams came in 2013.

However, in 2014 she struggled with one nagging injury after another. By the time she had healed physically and psychologically, she had toppled out of the Top 20 and was ranked No. 50.

After losing in the first round at Brisbane, Azarenka was denied a wild card into the tournament in Sydney. With such a low ranking, Azarenka drew top players in early rounds. This made it difficult to reach the quarterfinals. 

That was until Doha.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Azarenka defeated Venus Williams, Wozniacki and Elina Svitolina, en route to the finals of the Qatar Open in Doha. She lost the final to Lucie Safarova. Still, the run in Doha signaled Azarenka had returned to her aggressive ways.

Satisfied with her performance, after the tournament Azarenka spoke with the Doha News.

“There’s been a lot of progress this week, a lot of great matches. I was looking as many matches in a row to try to get used to that. And I had a lot of great things actually this week that I can take and still keep working. I’m still really motivated.”

Azarenka has always been a sort of anti-glamour girl. She plays with a chip on her shoulder. She prefers playing in shorts and sweatpants to wearing skirts and dresses. She's like the tomboy in the neighborhood who is convinced she can beat everybody on the block.

Perhaps with this new team, she will.