‘Soccer mom’ Victoria Azarenka on her love for PSG ‘since the Beckham days’ and her son’s football dreams
Victoria Azarenka has been donning a PSG shirt throughout the Australian Open, but what is the story behind her support for the French club?
Former world No 1 Azarenka reached the semi-final of the 2023 season-opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park on Tuesday after dispatching Jessica Pegula in straight sets.
After the match she proudly put on her Paris Saint-German shirt to conduct the on-court interview – as has become customary now.
Following questions and answers about the match, attention turned to her son Leo, football and her dog.
“Leo doesn’t really care so much that I play here [at the Australian Open], he worries more about his football and when are we going to play again,” she said.
“Obviously he is watching some matches and he wants his mom to be home. A few more days here and I’ll be back. It’s actually my dog’s birthday today. I miss my dog also so much, I have become a dog mom as well. I have two kids now.”
Azarenka, of course, is a massive football fan as she attended several of Argentina’s games at the 2022 Qatar World Cup and has made it clear that Lionel Messi is king.
El rey 👑 pic.twitter.com/e8GjKikzIj
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) December 3, 2022
But what is her connection to French giants PSG?
Azarenka answered the question ahead of the Australian Open as she also opened up about being a “soccer mom” and her son’s dream of playing for PSG.
Vika 🤝 big @PSG_English fan
So is her son, Leo 🥰@vika7 • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/Y1UQ5tidsc
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2023
“Everybody asked me this question ‘Why are you wearing a PSG shirt?’ and nobody understands that I have been supporting them since 2012 since [former England captain David] Beckham was signed to the club and I have been a fan for a long time, been to many, many games.
“My son Leo is extremely into football now. I call it football, he calls it soccer. We have this debate and he wants to play for Paris Saint-Germain. That’s his dream. I was like ‘it’s pretty good’. He’ll see me wearing a shirt and he’ll wear a shirt at the same time so we are matching.
“I’m a soccer mom now and I love that. I love supporting, I’m obnoxious, I yell, but I’m very positive. I’m actually very proud because it is a completely different emotion for me to support my son. I have no shame of screaming for him, like zero, but I am very supportive, I want him to do well and I want him to achieve his dream.”