Victoria Azarenka says she is enjoying working with Wim Fissette, the third coach she has had while on tour.
The former No. 1 defeated Angelique Kerber in the first round of Doha. "It's been fun. I feel like our personalities connect, so that's really important for me," she told the press in Doha. "And we'll see how it goes, but I'm enjoying myself. I hope he enjoys coaching me as well and I'm looking forward to this journey definitely."
Azarenka's previous coach, Sam Sumyk, decided to stop working with the 25-year-old following the Australian Open, and is now coaching Eugenie Bouchard. Prior to that, Azarenka had been coached by Antonio Van Grichen.
The Belgian coach previously worked with Kim Clijsters and Simona Halep, and began coaching Azarenka before Doha.
“Yeah, it's not an easy choice to get a coach, especially for me after I've only had two coaches in my professional career,” said Azarenka. “So I had to look in a little. Yeah, he's done some impressive work,” she said.
But Azarenka looked more at the individual than the accomplishments, she stressed. "I feel like records don't mean anything. It's about the chemistry, about the connection, how you feel about another person. Sometimes that is much more important than any kind of skill, especially at this level."
Azarenka, who is returning from a foot injury, is No. 48 in the rankings.