“Effort is non-negotiable”: Victoria Azarenka shares spotlight with son Leo in his TC desk debut

Coming off a semifinal run at the Miami Open, Victoria Azarenka pleasantly surprised herself with making the transition to green clay Wednesday. With son Leo in attendance, the two-time Australian Open champion kicked off her Credit One Charleston Open campaign in style after patiently waiting out a six-plus hour rain delay.

The No. 12 seed dismissed Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 6-1, 6-2, saving four of the five break points she faced to clinch her opener.

“Mom won, so I like that!” Leo told Steve Weissman when he joined her for an interview at the Tennis Channel desk.

“Amazing how many people stayed through to support. Always a great atmosphere here in Charleston,” a delighted Azarenka commented. “I started really solid, played really aggressive. Kinda put my foot on the pedal and didn’t really took it off.

“Quite surprised with my movement today.”

The mom-son duo then revealed their pre-match motto.

“Effort is non-negotiable,” shared a proud Leo.

Last year, Azarenka made her first appearance in Charleston since 2010. The 34-year-old looks to improve upon the third-round showing come Thursday against the winner of sixth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and American Taylor Townsend.

For the second tournament running, Anhelina Kalinina came out on the winning end against Caroline Wozniacki.

In Miami, Kalinina saved a match point en route to her 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 victory over the former world No. 1 in the second round. A change in surfaces brought a more decisive scoreline for the Ukrainian.

The No. 15 seed won 70 percent of her second-serve return points to break Wozniacki five times in advancing, 6-2, 6-3. Wozniacki, whose left calf was wrapped from the start of the contest, double-faulted to end it.

“We played two weeks ago, three hours and 20 minutes. I’m really happy today it was less,” smiled Kalinina during her on-court interview. “I didn’t miss so much. I think that was the key.”

Hometown favorite Emma Navarro, the 10^th seed, rolled over countrywoman Katie Volynets, 6-1, 6-1. Australia’s Astra Sharma also advanced by eliminating 16^th seed Lesia Tsurenko, 6-4, 6-0.