Azarenka happy to be challenged
Yanina Wickmayer's decent start ensured Victoria Azarenka avoided boredom at the US Open.
Victoria Azarenka was glad to be tested by Yanina Wickmayer in her US Open second-round win.
The Belarusian had to come from behind in the first set before she claimed a 7-5 6-4 victory over Wickmayer on Thursday.
Azarenka had fallen behind an early break and then trailed 5-4, with Wickmayer serving for the first set.
But the former world number one won the last three games of the set before taking the second to advance.
Azarenka said she welcomed the pressure moments of being behind.
"I think in the tough moments, pressure moments, that's where I find my best game," she said.
"I like to be in that battle and I like to test myself. Sometimes when things get always your way, you know, to me it gets a little bit boring.
"Sometimes I can lose focus and get myself back into some kind of mode that I have to climb my way out of there, so it's a challenge.
"But in tough moments I believe that I just, you know, try to play natural. I like it when it's tough."
Asked about being 'bored' when cruising, Azarenka - who faces Angelique Kerber in the third round - said she simply preferred to be challenged.
"Well, what I meant by boring is not like I don't enjoy it. Maybe it's not the correct word," she said.
"Sometimes when it comes everything your way you don't maybe - it just comes easy. I feel like I'm not used to getting easy, so I like to make it more tough.
"But I think the most challenging part is that the everyday routine is that sometimes you have to push yourself through.
"But to me, honestly, it's because I enjoy what I do right now so much that it doesn't take any extra effort.
"It's just, for me, to be able to continue to keep my focus and play every point like it's my last point."