Victoria Azarenka feels like playing in “smoke and mirrors” as she comes down hard on the Australian Open’s plastic use, championing sustainability

Victoria Azarenka questioned Australian Open's hypocrisy.

Victoria Azarenka feels like playing in “smoke and mirrors” as she comes down hard on the Australian Open’s plastic use, championing sustainability

Victoria Azarenka slams Australian Open (Image via X)

Belarusian tennis ace Victoria Azarenka looked miffed about the continued usage of plastic at the 2024 Australian Open despite the tournament’s pledge for sustainability. The two-time champion said this hypocritical stance does not help anyone and instead creates confusion.

As the Australian Open partnered with Australian start-up company Samsara in 2022 in a bid to recycle thousands of plastic bottles throughout the two-week event, Azarenka finds that the efforts being put to reduce the use of plastic are still not up to the mark. The Belarusian pointed out the flaws in the current plan.

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Azarenka highlighted how plastic is still being widely used with chocolate wrappers all over the stadium. She claimed that it was like ‘smoke and mirrors’.

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We have water bottles that are recyclable, but then we have plastic everywhere around [the venue]. What are we actually doing? I want to make sure that we do something that is important. But it looks like - what's that sentence - smoke and mirrors? You can say that?
Victoria Azarenka said during her post-match press conference.
'I don't like that. If we are going to do something important as try to be sustainable, okay, let's actually [go ahead and] do that. But if you look at all the things around the venue, we have [things like] chocolate individual wrappers all over the stadium. What are we actually doing?
The Belarusian ace said.

Victoria Azarenka advances to second round with comprehensive victory

While Victoria Azarenka did not look happy with the reckless plastic use at the 2024 Australian Open, the Belarusian would be delighted about the result of her first-round match at the year’s first Grand Slam. Azarenka registered a comprehensive win against Italian Camila Giorgi to advance to the second round.

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Victoria Azarenka (Image via People Magazine)

The two-time champion took the first set with ease as Azarenka won it 6-1. However, in the second set, she was denied a straight-set victory as Girogi stormed back to win it 6-4. But Azarenka was quick to bounce back and claim the deciding set 6-3.

With this win, Azarenka set herself a clash with Danish Clara Tauson who is coming on the back of a straight-set win against Greet Minnen.

The two players have met only once so far, at the 2021 Roland Garros wherein the Belarusian had emerged victorious. Azarenka had defeated Tauson 7-5, 6-4. The World No.22 will be hoping for a repeat when they meet in the second round.

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