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World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka has come a long way since first picking up a tennis racket in her native Belarus. Bongarts/Getty Images
However, she still considers the Eastern European nation to be her home. Azarenka is pictured with former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki (right) at a children's cancer center in Minsk in 2010. AFP/Getty Images
Azarenka (far left) first became involved in the sport when her mother started working in a tennis center in her native Belarus. Her first coach was Valentina Rzhanih (also pictured). Belarus Tennis Federation
Azarenka eventually had to leave Minsk to fulfil her ambitions, moving first to Marbella in Spain for a brief spell before settling in Arizona. Belarus Tennis Federation
Azarenka was a Wimbledon champion at the age of 14, winning the girls' doubles title in 2004 with compatriot Volha Havartsova. Getty Images
Azarenka won the junior titles at the Australian Open and U.S. Open in 2005, finishing the season as junior world number one. She burst onto the senior scene the year after. Getty Images
Less than a year after she briefly considered quitting, Azarenka became the first player from Belarus to win a grand slam singles title when she beat Maria Sharapova in the 2012 Australian Open final. AFP/Getty Images
Azarenka cemented her number one status by winning 14 straight matches after the Australian Open, collecting two more trophies. Getty Images
Azarenka is still seeking to improve, and has added two-time grand slam champion and former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo to her coaching team. AFP/Getty Images
