She’s No Roger Federer

There’s no rest for the pros during Grand Slams. After Victoria Azarenka took out slice-n-dicer Monica Niculescu Monday, she was back at the National Tennis Center Tuesday to whack serve after serve down the T on Practice Court 5. But her delivery wasn’t the only thing she worked on. After a serious practice, she had a little fun trying her hand at the between-the-legs shot, what used to be known as the “Sabatweenie.”

The spectators, who stood five deep along the chain link fence, were confused at first as Azarenka stood at the T and watched the ball sail over her head. But they went crazy as she spun around, caught up with the ball, and smacked at it between her long legs. It didn’t go exactly like it did for Roger Federer in Monday’s night session. Azarenka got her racquet on the ball, but she sent it skidding across the court and into the bottom of the net. Three more attempts yielded two more of the same and one whiff.

After a brief break in which her hitting partner tried to show her how it was done (he didn’t), Azarenka was back at it. “You can do it, Vika!” cried one fan. As she ran back to retrieve another feed, another fan yelled, “Now!” to instruct her when to slap at the ball. That one hit the netcord.

The shot is a work in progress. Azarenka never got it back in play. “What’s this girl trying to do?” asked one fan. “She’s no Roger Federer.” She’s no Gabriela Sabatini, either.