Victoria Azarenka is spending this holiday season exactly how she should: with family, festive cheer, and a dash of glamor. After calling it a season early in September after retiring from her R16 match against Kamilla Rakhimova, Azarenka has been living her best off-season life, spending it with her son, Leo, and their family dog. The occasion of Christmas also gave her the perfect opportunity for a fashion switch-up.

Though she ended the season without any titles, she did produce some remarkable achievements as she reached the SFs at Brisbane International, Miami Open, and Grass Court Championships Berlin and QFs at Qatar Open, Italian Open, Charleston Open, and Citi Open. Throughout the season, Azarenka has faced some injury challenges that impacted her performance. She had to withdraw from Wimbledon due to shoulder injuries but she managed to bounce back effectively in subsequent tournaments. The 35-year-old ended her season at No. 18 in the WTA rankings, which is her highest ranking since giving birth to her son in 2016.

Now, the off-season gave the former World No.1 a chance to ditch the sweats and tennis gear that had been her daily uniform and opt for something more special.

In a playful Instagram story, dated December 25th, she shared a mirror selfie with the caption, “One for the dress. Because I haven’t worn pretty much anything besides sweats and tennis clothes for the last 8 weeks.” The dress in question?

A stunning maroon outfit with a daring slit, paired with white heels that elevated her festive look. The 35-year-old tennis player was clearly feeling herself, and honestly, who could blame her? But it wasn’t just the dress that caught our attention.

The two time Grand Slam winning champion also shared some sweet family moments from their Christmas celebration. The beautiful photos included Azarenka posing in front of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree alongside her son Leo and their family dog, Guapo. Another sweet moment captured Leo sitting beside the tree, his focus entirely on unwrapping his Christmas gift. She captioned these sweet moments by wishing everyone a “Merry Christmas“.

But Christmas wasn’t the only celebration on Azarenka’s mind this month. She also celebrated her son’s birthday this month.

Victoria Azarenka celebrates son Leo’s birthday with love and laughter

December has been a month of double celebrations for Victoria Azarenka. Just days before Christmas, the former Australian Open champion marked a special milestone—her son Leo’s 8th birthday on December 19. She penned a heartfelt caption on Instagram to mark the day.

“Happy Birthday, my sweet Leo! Eight years ago, you made me a mommy, and every day since has been the most incredible adventure. Watching you grow into the smart, funny, and brave boy you are fills my heart with pride and joy beyond words. Leo, you make the world brighter just by being you, and I hope your birthday is as amazing as you are. You deserve all the happiness, fun, and love in the world today and always. I love you more than words can say, keep shining ⭐️Mommy ❤️,” she wrote.

The birthday celebrations mark another chapter in Azarenka’s journey as a devoted mother, a role she fought hard for during a tough custody battle with Leo’s father, Billy McKeague. After the pair separated, Azarenka had to withdraw from tournaments following Wimbledon 2017, as she refused to leave Leo, then just one-year-old, alone in Los Angeles during the legal proceedings. In 2018, Azarenka won custody of her son, a victory that allowed her to continue raising him while balancing her career on the tennis court.

Azarenka’s December was packed with highlights—Leo’s birthday, Christmas fun, and that gorgeous maroon dress. Who says moms can’t ace the holiday game in style?