Azarenka hoping for a big Aussie Open

By her own admission, fiery Belarusian Victoria Azarenka is not the easiest person
to be around on a tennis court.
And after finally breaking her WTA title drought at Brisbane, the spirited teenager
is set to make it very uncomfortable indeed for her foes at this month's Australian
Open.
World No.15 Azarenka, 19, was almost as intimidating off the court as she was on it
at the inaugural Brisbane International, abruptly dealing with the media after
sweeping aside rivals and having some heated clashes with umpires.
The second seed did not drop a set on her way to sealing a maiden title in her fifth
WTA final, thrashing ex-Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-1 in Saturday
night's decider.
She had little time to celebrate, leaving on Sunday for her opening round Sydney
International clash with Slovakian-born, Australian-based Jarmila Gajdosova on
Monday as part of her Australian Open build-up.
The win has prompted bookies to move her to seventh on their Australian Open
winner's field at $26.
All the pre-tournament hype at Brisbane surrounded top seed Ana Ivanovic but
Azarenka soon made a noise at the tournament - her high-pitched grunting during
shots sometimes preceding spirited debate with an umpire over a line call.
But Azarenka insisted she was now happy with her on-court temperament after much
grooming from coach Antonio Van Grichen.
"He's an amazing coach, he's been through a lot of things with me," Azarenka said.
"I just want to thank him for his patience with me because I am not a very easy
person to work with.
"I think I have grown up, I know when to do what (on court) - that's with a lot of
help from my coach."
His influence was obvious in Azarenka's quarterfinal against Czech Lucie Safarova
earlier this week.
She called him out for consultation after howling in frustration when reduced to 5-1
in the first set - she went on to win the match 7-6 6-4.
Azarenka lost her fourth straight final last year on the Gold Coast - the women's
tournament which was merged with the Adelaide men's event to create the Brisbane
International.
Twelve months later, Azarenka confirmed how drastically her power game had improved
when she held aloft the inaugural Brisbane International winner's trophy.
"I am just so happy that all this is paying off," she said.
"Because there was some trouble for me in the pre-season when I just couldn't get
the ball in (the court) and I was just freaking out."
She is running into the best form of her budding career at an ideal time.
Azarenka - who broke into the world top 20 for the first time last year - will line
up in an Australian Open field without defending champ Maria Sharapova.
Also world No.1 Jelena Jankovic is battling illness and third-priced favourite Ana
Ivanovic is suffering indifferent form and a stomach bug.
Azarenka made the third round in the Australian and US Opens as well as Wimbledon in
2008 and equalled a career-best finish by reaching the final 16 at Roland Garros.