Victoria Azarenka has been organizing relief efforts to help Turkey & Syria amidst earthquake devastation, reveals former tennis player Ipek Senoglu
Victoria Azarenka has been tirelessly working behind the scenes to organize relief efforts in Turkey and Syria in the wake of the recent earthquake devastation that shook both countries, former tennis player Ipek Senoglu has revealed.
Three powerful earthquakes rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday last week, a calamitous situation that has claimed more than 28,000 human lives according to the latest numbers.
Calls from around the world, including from the tennis fraternity, have come forth to collect aid from fans that can go towards rehabilitation efforts in both nations and help their citizens in need.
Azarenka is currently in Doha for the Qatar Open, where she is set to take on Turkey's Ipek Oz in her opener on Monday. One Turkish user took to Twitter to reveal that there was something planned before the match, hinting about a program to raise awareness about the issue among fans.
"As I understand, something will be done in the first round match of İpek Öz & Victoria Azarenka WTA Doha, the match will probably be played tomorrow. It is very valuable for those who do this sport that we are passionate about, to share our pain and to raise awareness for people in need," they said.
Anladığım kadarıyla İpek Öz & Victoria Azarenka Wta Doha ilk tur maçında bir şeyler yapılacak, maç galiba yarın oynanacak. Tutkunu olduğumuz bu sporu yapanların acımızı paylaşması, bir farkındalık yaratılması şu an ihtiyacı olan insanlar için çok kıymetli.
Replying to the tweet, Ipek Senoglu also revealed that the Belarusian has been in contact with her every single day for the past week, praising her for trying her best to help during this troubling time. Furthermore, Senoglu also added that there were other players who were just as helpful, but chose not to reveal any more names.
"I would also like to point out that Vika has been in contact with me almost every day since the first day. I won't be able to name the other players, but Vika is trying to organize with all her might," Senoglu said.
@DogukanDilber_ Ayrıca belirtmek isterim ki, Vika benimle ilk günden beri hemen her gün iletişimde. Diger oyuncuların ismini veremeyecegim, ama Vika tüm gücüyle organize olmaya çalısıyor.
Victoria Azarenka is one of the many people Senoglu had asked for help immediately after the earthquake hit, requesting for funds that could be used for relief efforts in her home country and Syria.
"I'm very solution-oriented person, I'm like a freak with that" - Victoria Azarenka
Speaking after her win over Sofia Kenin at the 2023 Australian Open, Victoria Azarenka had called herself a "solution-oriented freak," commenting that she was not one to have regrets but someone who actively worked to solve problems.
While the former World No. 1 said it predominantly about her tennis, it is a sentiment that can be extended to how she approaches other situations as well, as evidenced by her expert handling of the one in Turkey and Syria.
"I don't have regrets, because I can't take things back. The way I will look in the situation is usually what I can do better. I'm very solution-oriented person. I'm like a freak with that. If anybody has a problem, I can give you 25 solutions," Victoria Azarenka said.
"That is really my personality. It's exactly the same thing where maybe there is no solution. You just have to do something that is required you to do, it's that simple, and I can look for 25 different solutions, where there might not be one, or it's out of my control," she added.