Victoria Azarenka, the former world No.1 tennis player, found herself at odds with the umpire during her second-round match in Indian Wells. The match encountered a moment of controversy when Azarenka, clearly dissatisfied with an electronic line call, unleashed an expletive-laden tirade against the system.
In the face-off with the eighth seed, Qinwen Zheng, Azarenka’s judgement faltered on one shot from her opponent that she had assumed was heading out, only for it to land decidedly on the line. Given the implementation of electronic line calling, her challenge was futile, leading to her colourful outburst against the “inferior system”. Consequently, she was served with a code violation, shortly before losing the match.
Azarenka entered Indian Wells with hopes of reversing a less than stellar start to the season. The Belarusian had yet to make it past the second round in any tournament in the current season, and was keen on breaking the rut against Zheng.
However, advancing to round three was a tall order. Zheng, the No.8 seed and an Olympic champion, secured the first set. Despite Azarenka’s best efforts to regain control of the match, she found herself in a tough spot at 4-4 30-30 in the second set. An error in judgement led her to challenge a shot she believed was going out, forgetting the automatic line calling was in effect.
The hawkeye replay showing the ball in left Azarenka in disbelief. She approached the umpire’s chair, adamantly asserting the ball was out. “Absolutely no way… It’s a clear mark. It’s the second time. It’s a clear mark,” she protested.
Marija Cicak, the chair official, could do little but uphold the automatic call. Azarenka, clearly aware of the umpire’s limitations, continued to vent her frustrations, leading to a code violation.
With a warning issued, Azarenka resumed the game at the baseline, facing a break point. She managed to save it, only to be broken in the same game, leading to Zheng sealing a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
While the Indian Wells performance added to Azarenka’s list of disappointments, her efforts off-court have been commendable. As a representative of the WTA Player Council, Azarenka has been a strong advocate for maternity pay in women’s tennis.
Her efforts bore fruit this week with the announcement of a landmark partnership between the WTA and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the PIF. The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program will ensure players receive paid maternity leave for up to 12 months, alongside grants for fertility treatments and other benefits.
“This marks the beginning of a meaningful shift in how we support women in tennis… Ensuring that programs like this exist has been a personal mission of mine, and I’m excited to see the lasting impact it will have for generations to come,” said Azarenka, a mother herself. Despite the on-court drama, it’s clear that her efforts off-court are making a significant impact.
