Charleston Open: 7-Year-Old Son’s Hungry Act Turns Into a Stroke of Luck for Victoria Azarenka in a Tough 3-Set Battle Against Taylor Townsend

The No. 12 seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus defeated Taylor Townsend with a score of 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday night at the Family Circle Tennis Center. She is now all set to enter the Charleston Open quarterfinals. However, the first set of the game yesterday was not in favor of Azarenka. Wondering how the match took a wild turn? The answer is when her son, Leo, went for an ice cream break!

During a post-match interview, seven-year-old Leonard revealed how his spontaneous ice cream break turned into her mother’s game-winning move. Here’s a lighthearted moment between the duo that captured the attention of the fans.

“I really needed it,” says Victoria Azarenka’s son about an ice-cream break during the Charleston Open

During the opening set of the Charleston Open on Thursday, it was impossible to predict Azarenka’s victory. The intensity of the match grew stronger in the opening set. However, after the set was over, Leo, Azarenka’s son, expressed his wish to take an ice-cream break owing to the hot weather on the ground. This break proved to be much needed for Azarenka as well. After spending time with her son during the break, her performance took a dramatic turn.

She eventually outfoxed Townsend’s final volley with a charging backhand sent into the open court, capping a 13-point rally. Reflecting on this incident later on, a fun banter between the mother-son duo was observed in a post-match interview. When Steve Weissman, the host of the interview, asked Leo about that break, he responded, “I needed an ice cream break. Like I really needed it. It was too hot.”

Victoria Azarenka further participated in the fun banter during the interview and joked, “I went to the bathroom and took the ice cream break, too.” Although the lighthearted moment captured the hearts of their fans, the significance of spending quality time with a loved one was visible in her on-court performance.

Driven by her son’s love and encouragement, she demonstrated unyielding focus and fortitude. And this dominated the rest of the match and led her to an exceptional victory on the court. After her exceptional performance on the court, Azarenka is all set to fight her next opponent, Jessica Pegula. Even though everyone appreciated Azarenka’s victory, one fan stood out in particular.

Azarenka’s son hails her mother as amazing

Victoria Azarenka’s display of her uncompromised “efforts” on court won the heart of her 7-year-old as well. When asked about his opinion on her mother’s performance, he proudly said, “It was amazing.” This was the first time that Leo appeared in a post-match interview with her mother. His excitement was visible throughout the interview. “Mom won, so I like that! My mom was just heart, and she didn’t give up,” he further added when asked about his mother’s victory.

Also read: ‘Oh My God, She Sucks’: Victoria Azarenka Reveals an Embarrassing Tale Featuring ‘Best’ Buddy Gael Monfils

Before the interview came to an end, the mother and son recited their pre-match slogan together. According to the former World No. 1, this motto not only describes her as an athlete but also serves as a lesson she has tried to teach her son, who likes to play hockey and soccer. The heartwarming incident had an impact much beyond the Charleston Open’s boundaries, acting as a moving reminder of the strength of family and love.

Read more: ‘Looks Like He’s Still 19 Years Old’ – Victoria Azarenka Draws Inspiration From Novak Djokovic’s Timeless Energy on Her Tennis Journey