Victoria Azarenka spent most of 2015 on the comeback trail following a foot injury that sidelined her for several months, but she has won two titles this season.
"I'm just very happy that I'm able to do whatever I want on the court,” she told the WTA’s official website. “I can move the way I want to move, and [I] see improvements in my game. “This is what keeps me excited, keeps me motivated, and seeing that it works against the best player in the world just brings a little bit extra to work even harder."
The 26-year-old beat Serena Williams in straight sets in the Indian Wells final.
Azarenka, who has said she spent much of the offseason working on regaining her movement, attributed her victory to keeping up her training even during the Australian Open, and in the period leading up to Indian Wells.
"All this time I was setting little goals to improve whatever it is that I want to," she said.
And she still sees ways to improve.
"Knowing that I could just be better gets me excited,” she said. “That's what helps me wake up in the morning and go after it. There is nothing else I want to do in life right now but give myself the best chance I can to be able to chase my dreams."
Though she has yet to get beyond a Grand Slam quarterfinal since returning to tour, Azarenka considers herself a better player now than she was when she reached No. 1 in 2012. She added a new coach, Wim Fissette, and Williams' former hitting partner, Sascha Bajin, to her team about a year ago. She also has a new physio.
"I find ways to win when some other things don't work," she said. "I've improved my serve a lot. I'm mentally way happier, and I have people with whom I see no limitations. That's also very important, to surround yourself with energy and with people who believe you have no limits, and not just trying to tell you how to stay the same."