Victoria Azarenka’s 8-year-old son, Leo, took center stage with an endearing gesture at the 2025 Miami Open, proving that the spotlight isn’t exclusive to the tennis court. While Azarenka, a seasoned WTA professional, is no stranger to attention, it’s her son Leo who is capturing hearts both on and off the court.
The Belarusian tennis star, known for her powerful performances and motherly love, has often expressed the joy she derives from sharing her tennis journey with her son. This sentiment was reiterated during her 2022 Australian Open campaign when she stated, “These kind of moments are really priceless for me. To be able for me to share that with my son is pretty incredible.” It’s the strength of this bond that sees Leo accompanying his mother on every tennis tour.
Azarenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, kicked off her Miami Open campaign on a victorious note, defeating Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina in the R128 stage with a resounding 6-3, 6-1 scoreline. This triumph marked her 79th combined win in women’s singles matches at the Indian Wells and Miami Open, also known as the Sunshine Double. With this, she equaled former American pro, Lindsay Davenport’s record and is now only surpassed by the legendary Williams sisters. Serena, a 23-time Slam champion, and Venus, a 7-time Major champion, lead the elite list with 102 and 88 Sunshine Double wins, respectively. Azarenka is set to take on Czechia’s Karolina Muchova in the next round.
While Azarenka’s victory was noteworthy, it was Leo who stole the limelight with a charmingly innocent act. Following his mother’s win, Leo was given the chance to leave a message on the courtside camera’s lens, a tradition usually reserved for victorious players. He seized this opportunity to scribble a heartwarming message, “Hello World”, much to the amusement and delight of his mother and the crowd.
However, this isn’t Leo’s first brush with fame. His adorable antics at Azarenka’s campaign in Charleston the previous season are still fresh in the minds of many. In a memorable incident during the Charleston Open in April 2024, while his mother was locked in an intense match against two-time doubles Major champion Taylor Townsend, Leo was spotted indulging in an ice cream break. Reflecting on that moment, Leo admitted, “I needed an ice cream break. I really needed it. I was too hot.” Victoria Azarenka humorously added, “I went to the bathroom and took the ice cream break, too.”
Azarenka eventually clinched that match after a rollercoaster ride of a game, with a score of 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Commenting on her performance, she said, “It just probably sums up the whole match. It was so dramatic. Taylor played great, she hit so many lines. Her serve was really tough. I feel like especially in the second set, I got a really important break and got a little better energy, better rhythm there.”
As for Leo, he succinctly summed up his mother’s victory as “Amazing.” The bond between Azarenka and her son is touching indeed, a testament to the balance she maintains between her roles as a competitive athlete and a loving mother. What’s your take on Azarenka’s journey and her relationship with her son? Share your views in the comments section.
