Tianjin Open organizers announced today that former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka will make her tournament debut at the 2018 Tianjin Open as part of the tournament’s five-year celebrations of welcoming the world to Tianjin this October.
The Belarusian’s participation continues the tournament’s long history of bringing new global superstars to Tianjin each year and in doing so joins old rival Maria Sharapova who confirmed her return to Tianjin earlier this year.
阿扎伦卡获得2012年澳大利亚网球公开赛冠军
Tennis fans in Tianjin will be able to feast their eyes upon two of the WTA’s most recognizable stars, who previously held the top two spots on the WTA rankings in 2012, battle it out at the Tianjin Tuanbo International Tennis Center from October 8-14.
阿扎伦卡获得2013年澳大利亚网球公开赛冠军
Additionally, Azarenka will be looking to become the fifth individual Tianjin Open champion and prevent Sharapova from becoming the first player to win consecutive Tianjin Open titles.
Following the birth of her son Leo, Azarenka returned to a fuller tennis schedule at the start of this year, reaching the semi-finals in Miami and the quarterfinals in San Jose. She is excited to be playing in Tianjin, and returning to China for the first time since playing in Wuhan in 2015," I have really enjoyed playing in China in the past and had some great successes there, so I am really looking forward to going to Tianjin, a new city for me, and playing in my first Tianjin Open" enthused the 29-year-old.
阿扎伦卡与儿子Leo
Azarenka has amassed 20 WTA singles titles and 16 finals during her illustrious career and reached WTA World No. 1 in 2012 after claiming the first her of her two Australian Open (2012, ’13) crowns.
“We have been committed from the very start of our tournament beginning to bring the best players in the world to Tianjin. Vika is a global superstar but more importantly she is super popular here in China and I know the Tianjin Open fans are going to love seeing her play, ”said Tournament Director Stephen Duckitt.
"Having Vika and Maria playing in our fifth edition of the tournament further cements our position as the largest annual sporting event in Tianjin" he added.
阿扎伦卡获得2012年澳大利亚网球公开赛冠军
阿扎伦卡获得2013年澳大利亚网球公开赛冠军
阿扎伦卡与儿子Leo
