Statisfaction: Is Azarenka the Best WTA Returner Ever?

If her first 17 matches of 2013 are any indication, Victoria Azarenka could end up with the best service return numbers that the game has ever seen.

By Chris Oddo

Victoria Azarenka at Indian Wells in 2013

(March 20, 2013) -- Over the last few years a lot of players and pundits have tipped Novak Djokovic as the best returner in the history of the men's game. It may be true (though many will argue, and rightfully so, for Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and Rafael Nadal), but when you talk in relative terms, a still rising 23-year-old woman from Belarus might prove herself to be better than all of them.

Victoria Azarenka, still perhaps a touch from her full-blown potential, has been racking up ridiculously good return numbers since 2008. What's more, she's improved upon them every year, and in 2013, during an undefeated stretch that has seen her win her second Grand Slam, finally notch another win over Serena Williams, and stretch her tour-best winning streak to seventeen matches, she's blowing it out of the water.

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In 2013, she's nearly won two-thirds of her return games, and she's done all of that with a few nagging injuries "holding her back."

With remarkably precise groundstrokes, uncanny anticipation, a keen understanding of what return to play and when to play it, Azarenka has begun 2013 on record-breaking pace. Remarkably, her numbers could continue to improve if she stays healthy through the spring, where all the tennis is played on red clay, a surface that is not kind to servers.

Here's the lowdown on Azarenka's return numbers from 2008 to the present. Of note is the damage that Azarenka is doing against her opponents second serve. It's a relatively small sample size, but Azarenka is clearly the cream of the crop when it comes to returning serve. Has anybody ever been better? Are we looking at the best return of serve in WTA history? Maybe, maybe not. But Azarenka's efforts thus far certainly put her in the conversation, and the best may still be coming.

Exhibit A, Return Games Won

Return Games % Won	Year/ Matches Played	Overall Rank on Tour
46	2008/ 60	8th
49.5	2009/ 60	1st
47.8	2010/ 62	2nd
49	2011/ 72	3rd
52.5*	2012/ 78	1st
62.3	2013/ 17	1st

* Highest full-season percentage ever recorded, and only full-season percentage ever recorded over 50 %.

Exhibit B, Second Serve Return Points Won

2nd Serve Pts % Won	Year/ Matches Played	Overall Rank on Tour
61.8	2008/ 60	1st
62.1	2009/ 60	1st
61.1	2010/ 62	2nd
61.2	2011/ 72	2nd
63.8*	2012/ 78	1st
67.6	2013/ 17	1st