World Number 1 and reigning Australian Open Champion is on her way to doing what Novak Djokovic did last year.   Following her win yeserday in the final of the WTA Qatar Open where she defeated Australia's Samantha Stosur, the young Belarussian has now won 17 matches in a row this year.

The comparisons don't stop there though.  Both players were around a few years, threatening to be brilliant, but lacking the cpmposure and the right temperament to make it to the very top of the game.

Sure Novak had already won the Australian Open and firmly cemented his spot in the top 4 players of the World prior to his 2011 breakthrough (Or dominance is it).  But it wasn't until last year that he really put a fully fit body and brain together with the obvious skill set he'd always had.

Victoria Azarenka is similar.  Until late last year, Vicka tended to be a skillful player capable of the odd upset, a fiery competitor who at times could capitulate if the going got tough.

What I think has really made these 2 the premier players in the world - their physical fitness. Both players in the past appeared to break down far too easily. These days, there is not 1 single player faster around the court than Novak Djokovic, and nor would there be many, if any players who cover the court better than Victoria Azarenka.

I hope I haven't set the bar too high for Azarenka, comparing her season thus far to Joker's 2011 campaign. I wish her well, and I wish Sam, Tomic and the all of the other Australians even better!

Michael