Victoria Azarenka says she has begun training again and wants to improve her game as she aims for a return around the time of the U.S. Open.
The 27-year-old gave birth to a son, Leo, three months ago and told the Tennis Channel she began training again three weeks ago.
In a TV interview, she said she would like to return during the hard-court season, traditionally her best surface. "This is realistically where I want to start. Also if Leo is ready to travel the world; I want to be comfortable. I don't want to rush anything," she said.
The former No. 1 is working on regaining her fitness and also on improving as a player. "It's more about rebuilding the body," she said. "I'm taking enough time to be able to work on things that, as a tennis player in the off-season, you don't have enough time to do."
Azarenka said she wants to "get everything better, from movement to shot selection, shot technique, improve my serve," and has brought on a new coach, Michael Joyce, a former coach to Maria Sharapova. "I spoke to Michael and he had a lot of ideas I was interested to listen to," said Azarenka.
A two-time Grand Slam champion, Azarenka was unequivocal about her comeback ambitions. "I don't want to come back and just play. I want to go back and be the best again," she said. "That's why I'm taking the time to work smart and add to my game so I can become a better player."
