Victoria Azarenka reveals DISTRESSING details about her ex-coach blaming him for her mental health challenges
Azarenka recalled how controlling and narcissistic Sam Sumyk was and blamed him for forcing her to play matches even during those times she felt mentally drained
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Victoria Azarenka, Sam Sumyk (Images via CNN, Tennis Circus)
Victoria Azarenka has won two Grand Slam titles, both at the Australian Open (2012 and 2013). During that time, she worked with coach Sam Sumyk and also reached the top spot in the rankings. The Belarusian started working with Sumyk in 2010.
Although the relationship with her coach looked professional from the outside at the time, Azarenka recently revealed the dark side of Sumyk, claiming that working with him made her feel lonely and isolated because he had an extremely manipulative nature. Azarenka also blamed him for forcing her to play matches even when she felt mentally drained or not prepared.
“My coach at that time, not the greatest person I would say. Kind of isolated me a little to be able to control me and manipulate in a way. Also, had to have one voice that had to be his,” Azarenka told Simon Jordan on his podcast ‘Up Front with Simon Jordan’. She added that Sumyk made her feel as if she can’t do anything without him.
Victoria Azarenka calls Sam Sumyk a narcissistic person
Azarenka then recalled how controlling and narcissistic Sam Sumyk was. She feels that when people like him get the idea that they no longer have control, then they simply leave.
Azarenka disclosed that when she was dealing with a long injury and wanted to take a break, she still had to play to not feel guilty, and that Sumyk also used to behave as if everything was her fault. Azarenka and Sumyk parted ways in 2015. The reason for the end of their partnership, according to her, was his losing control over her.
After tutoring Azarenka, Sumyk coached Eugenie Bouchard for seven months before taking Garbine Muguruza under his tutelage. In 2016, Muguruza lifted the Roland Garros trophy, and the next year, she won Wimbledon as well and climbed to No. 1 in the rankings. Despite tasting success, Muguruza parted ways with Sumyk following the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.
In the present Wimbledon tournament in 2023, Azarenka reached the fourth round before losing to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (11-9). Azarenka had defeated the likes of Yue Yuan, Nadia Podoroska, and Daria Kasatkina before her defeat to Svitolina. She also played a doubles match by pairing up with Beatriz Haddad Maia, but couldn’t go past the second round.
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Gouri Das
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