Virginie Razzano says she deserves all of her success because she hasn’t given in despite off-court tragedy and injury. The 30-year-old Frenchwoman, who upset Serena Williams at the 2012 French Open, reached the semifinals of the Southern California Open with victories over Svetlana Kuznetsova, Carla Suarez Navarro and Petra Kvitova, whom she needed three-and-a-half hours to defeat.
Razzano’s fiancée and coach passed away two years ago at a young age due to a brain tumor. After she upset Williams, she suffered a major hip injury that affected her up until the start of this season.
Her ranking fell to No. 196 earlier this year, but she should crack the Top 100 next week.
“The success is a lot work,” said Razzano, who reached a career high No. 16 ranking in 2009. “There is not secret. I don’t want to be quickly and say, ‘Okay, Virginie, you must to be quickly for comeback.’ No. I take my time. I’m practicing a lot. I stay with focus on my job, to work on my game and when you go on court. I think I am a champion. I am a champion, because it’s not easy for comeback every time if you have some problems with injuries or pressure of life. I think I have a big character. I have a strong character and I’m never down. I am every time going up. It’s life. You can’t go down. You must to go and progress and do your job during your life.
“If it’s professional life, you must to do your best. If I don’t think that, I prefer to stop and say, ‘Okay, this is finished for you, Virginie.’”