Victoria Azarenka's coach posts note on social media as pair split after four years together

Victoria Azarenka’s coach posts note on social media as pair split after four years together

Posted by Admin November 3, 2024 Tennis

Victoria Azarenka has enjoyed a stellar career on the WTA Tour, winning 21 singles titles and reaching number one in the world.

Azarenka won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013, her two Grand Slam successes to date, and also reached a further three Major Finals at the US Open.

Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The Belarussian has won ten WTA 1000 titles during her career, and sits just behind the legendary Serena Williams‘ 263 match wins at 1000 level, with 229.

Her performances at the level saw her break a record in 2024, as Azarenka became the first player to record 150 straight-set wins at WTA 1000 events.

The former world number one hasn’t enjoyed too much success in recent years, currently going on four years since she last won a singles title on the WTA Tour.

Her consistency however has kept Azarenka at the top of the women’s game, with the 35-year-old currently ranked 20th in the world.

Azarenka has made a big move at the end of her 2024 season that could have big implications for 2025 and beyond.

Azarenka and her coach Maxime Tchoutakian started working together in 2021, but the latter has confirmed that the pair will now be parting ways.

Tchoutakian took to Instagram, reflecting on the time they spent as a team.

“Four years ago, I knew I wanted to start my career as a coach,” he said.

“Little did I know I was going to start it that way.”

“Highs, lows, but mostly constant learnings and rewarding experiences.”

The Frenchman went on to thank Azarenka for placing her trust in him.

“Victoria Azarenka, thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me, it’s been an honor and a privilege to work with you,” he said.

“Now looking forward to next challenges.”

Can Victoria Azarenka win another Grand Slam title?

It remains to be seen who Azarenka will be working alongside in 2025, but the goal no doubt remains the same, to win an elusive third Grand Slam title.

She reached her most recent Major final in 2020, losing to Naomi Osaka in a deciding set at the US Open, her third final defeat at the event.

At 35 years of age, Azarenka is older than the majority of her competitors, and there aren’t many stars who have won a Grand Slam title at her age.

Year	Australian Open	French Open	Wimbledon	US Open
2024	Aryna Sabalenka – 25 yrs	Iga Swiatek – 23 yrs	Barbora Krejcikova – 28 yrs	Aryna Sabalenka – 26 yrs
2023	Aryna Sabalenka – 24 yrs	Iga Swiatek – 22 yrs	Marketa Vondrousova – 24 yrs	Coco Gauff – 19 yrs
2022	Ashleigh Barty – 25 yrs	Iga Swiatek – 21 yrs	Elena Rybakina – 23 yrs	Iga Swiatek – 21 yrs
2021	Naomi Osaka – 23 yrs	Barbora Krejcikova – 25 yrs	Ashleigh Barty – 25 yrs	Emma Raducanu – 18 yrs
2020	Sofia Kenin – 21 yrs	Iga Swiatek – 19 yrs	–	Naomi Osaka – 22 yrs

Age of recent Grand Slam champions

Since 2020, no woman has won a Grand Slam title over the age of 30, which doesn’t make for easy viewing if you’re Azarenka.

Instead, she must look to Serena Williams for inspiration, the only woman to win a Grand Slam title past 35, winning both the US Open and Australian Open at 35 and 37.

Another Major triumph will be a tough ask for the Belarussian, but with a new coaching setup in 2025, you can’t rule anything out.

Azarenka could well return at next year’s Australian Open, which begins on January 12.