Victoria Azarenka: “Nerves Got Into Me” Not Injuries (VIDEO)

Victoria Azarenka, from Belarus, had a controversial medical timeout during her semi-final game against American teenager Sloane Stephens at the 2013 Australian Open semi-finals, Thursday. According to the Australian Open officials, the tournament doctor reported that Azarenka had left knee and rib injuries. But did she really have injuries? It looked like nerves, not injuries, got into her that she couldn’t close the match.

“I just felt a little bit overwhelmed. I realized I’m one step away from the final and nerves got into me for sure,” Azarenka said in an after-match interview. “I couldn’t breathe. I had chest pains,” she said. “It was like I was getting a heart attack. After that it wasn’t my best, but it’s important to overcome this little bit of a struggle and win the match.”

There are speculations about the timing of her medical timeout. Stephens broke Azarenka’s serve to pull within 5-3 in the second set. After leaving for medical attention, the Belarusian returned to break Stephens’ serve to end the match at 6-1, 6-4.

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