Victoria Azarenka reveals why she’s wearing lucky PSG shirt at Australian Open – and it’s all to do with David Beckham
VICTORIA AZARENKA has been wearing a lucky PSG shirt during her Australian Open run – and it’s all down to Golden Balls.
The Belarusian, 33, has donned the French football top whenever she has won a match this past fortnight in Melbourne.
She will play Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals on Thursday, aiming to reach a first Australian Open final since she won back-to-back titles in 2012-13.
Azarenka gave birth to son Leo in December 2016 and is trying to do what Serena Williams never did – lift a tennis major as a mum.
Her choice of football team was inspired by David Beckham when he played in the French capital for PSG a decade ago in the twilight of his career.
She said: “It was me who discovered the club.
“Leo adores their shirt and all their kit. And he loves Lionel Messi as well.
“I also watch the Premier League, La Liga and the French championship.
“It is something I really like to do to get away from the tennis world.
“I love going to the stadium, it is my favourite thing, and the Parc des Princes is the best stadium in my opinion.
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“Even if it is not as big as the others, the atmosphere is crazy. I took my son and my nephew this year – they had eyes which shone with joy.
“My favourite Paris player was David Beckham. Today it’s Messi.
“I have always liked Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Neymar is very good, too.
“All the players are incredible. I really like (Achraf) Hakimi, he had a really good World Cup with Morocco and has a very nice relationship with (Kylian) Mbappe.
“It is beautiful to see them together, to be a witness to their friendship, which is something that I miss a bit in tennis.
“It is an individual sport and, sometimes, I would like to have a relationship like that.”