Updated on
Summary Victoria Azarenka has shrugged off her comparison with Novak Djokovic.
Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka is pleased with her 17 straight victories so far this season, but the Australian Open champion is not about to compare her winning streak with Novak Djokovics all-conquering start to last season just yet.I am honored to have the comparison because he is a great champion, but I have a lot of work to do to catch up with him, Azarenka said. Djokovic went 41 matches unbeaten at the start of last season.The 22-year-old Azarenka is the top-seeded player at the Dubai Tennis Championships, which started Monday amid a rash of withdrawals. The field also includes defending champion Caroline Wozniacki and U.S. Open winner Sam Stosur, but Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, French Open winner Li Na and Vera Zvonareva all withdrew because of illness and injury.Last week, Zvonareva retired from the Qatar Open while trailing Monica Niculescu of Romania 7-5, 3-2 because of pain in her left hip. Kvitova pulled out of that event with an unspecified injury.However, Azarenka shook off a lingering ankle injury to win the Qatar Open on Sunday, routing Australias Stosur 6-1, 6-2.The Belorussians 17th straight victory sealed her first title since replacing Wozniacki at the top of the rankings after winning in Melbourne. The Doha victory was Azarenkas third title of 2012, having started out by winning the Sydney tournament.I am enjoying a moment a lot, Azarenka said. I did not practice today, giving my foot a rest and hopefully (it will) heal.Like Djokovic, Azarenka couldnt single out a particular change in her game or training to explain her start to the season one she might not even have played after almost quitting tennis a year ago, following early defeats in Doha and Dubai.Its hard to say its one thing. Behind that (success) is a lot of hard work, some unfortunate losses last year, and some good losses I learnt from last year, Azarenka said. I am also a more mature player. I have a better mind, a clearer mind. I know what I am doing.Rather than quitting, Azarenka took a brief break and returned to tennis to have her best season in 2011, winning 55 of 72 matches to finish the year at No. 3.
