Victoria Azarenka aims for first final of 2021, channeling big-match experience ahead of Ostapenko rematch

That's showing this week, as the 32-year-old from Belarus has turned around a subpar stretch to reach the semifinals at the BNP Paribas Open. But Azarenka says she is concentrating more on her quality of play than what round she reaches.

"I think the more important is to actually look right now what I'm able to do," said Azarenka, who beat Jessica Pegula to reach the semifinals. "Not necessarily look forward, but it's almost like reassurance here. The results are coming. That's the measure, right.

"In tennis unfortunately it's all by the results, especially that measure from the outside. For yourself, you can put little goals and try to climb that ladder.

"I would like mini goals that I put in front of myself, have I achieved them. Every time being stuck with the results, it's a lot of up and down with your emotion, with your confidence. I’m trying to see how I can have more of a steady line and maybe take one step at a time and not go too high or too low.”

The big-hitting Azarenka is still looking to improve her game, saying she's been working on taking control of points rather than playing long rallies.

"I'm also not in the beginning of my career to grind every match," Azarenka said. It's not necessarily tougher physically, but from one match to another it adds up. I'm looking how I can be more efficient as a player."

Azarenka overcame Ostapenko in their only previous encounter at Roland Garros in 2019.

In 2020, the former No. 1 won Cincinnati and reached the final of the US Open, but is still looking for her first final this season. She will look to do it when she plays Jelena Ostapenko in the semifinal of Indian Wells.

But even if she hadn't done a lot in the run-up to the tournament, California-based Azarenka has plenty of experience in the desert at Indian Wells, winning the 2012 and 2016 events with wins against first Maria Sharapova and then Serena Williams.

"I feel like I've always liked to play big tournaments," said Azarenka, who has also previously reached three finals at the US Open.

"Indian Wells is almost like the fifth Grand Slam. I always had a lot more motivation coming to tournaments like this... But in terms of game-wise, conditions are pretty tricky here. It's about, like, adjustment a lot and navigating through two weeks. It's a two-week event, so it also takes a lot of energy a lot of focus out of you."

Azarenka is No.32 in the rankings.