Victoria Azarenka's Racket: Head, Wilson, a Yonex Detour and Back Again

Victoria Azarenka has one of the greatest two-handed backhands the women's game has seen, and she has hit it with rackets from three different brands. Her equipment story mirrors her career: a fast rise, a period at the top, a break for motherhood, and a stubborn return to what worked. If you have ever wondered whether pros really stick to the racket on their sponsor's billboard, Azarenka is a great example of a player who chose feel over contracts.

The Short Answer

Azarenka grew up with Head and used the Head Extreme until around 2012. She then joined Wilson and is most associated with the Wilson Ultra 100. After the birth of her son in December 2016 she signed with Yonex and briefly used the EZONE 100, but in 2018 she went back to the Wilson Ultra 100 even without a Wilson contract. After her strong 2020 season, Wilson signed her again.

The Head Years (Juniors to 2012)

Azarenka was a Head player from her junior days, using the Head Extreme, a spin-friendly frame with a 100-square-inch head. That was the racket of her rise: her first WTA titles in 2009, her climb into the top ten, her 2011 Wimbledon semi-final and her run to the 2011 WTA Championships final.

The Wilson Years (2012 to 2017)

From 2012 she was sponsored by Wilson, and she spent the peak of her career with a Wilson frame, most closely linked to the Ultra 100. This is the period in which she won the 2012 and 2013 Australian Opens, reached world No. 1 for the first time on 30 January 2012, won an Olympic bronze medal in singles in London in 2012 and reached back-to-back US Open finals in 2012 and 2013, both lost to Serena Williams.

In 2016 she completed the rare "Sunshine Double", winning Indian Wells and Miami back to back, before announcing her pregnancy.

As with most top players, it is possible that some of her frames were customised or older moulds painted to match current retail models, but no reliable source has published her exact specifications, so we will not guess at weight, balance or tension.

The Yonex Detour (2017 to 2018)

When Azarenka returned from maternity leave in 2017, she signed an endorsement deal with Yonex and used the EZONE 100. It did not last. Her return was also complicated by a long custody dispute over her son, Leo, which limited her travel, and her results in that period were modest.

In 2018 she went back to the Wilson Ultra 100, even though she was not under contract with Wilson at the time. That is unusual: players normally play whatever their sponsor supplies. Her choice suggests how much she valued the feel of the Ultra.

Back on Top With Wilson (2020 Onwards)

The 2020 season was the reward. Azarenka won the Western & Southern Open (played in New York that year, and she won the final by walkover when Naomi Osaka withdrew), then reached the US Open final, where she lost to Osaka in three sets after winning the first set. After that season Wilson signed her again as an official player.

She stayed competitive into her mid-thirties, reaching the Australian Open semi-finals in 2023 and the Miami Open semi-finals in 2024, where she lost a final-set tiebreak to Elena Rybakina after winning the second set 6-0.

Where She Is in 2026

Azarenka ended her 2025 season early, after reaching the third round of the US Open. As of September 2026 she has not played a match in more than a year and is listed among the WTA's inactive players, but she has not announced her retirement. Whether we see her Wilson on court again is an open question, though her place among the great players of her era is already secure: 21 WTA singles titles, two Grand Slams, world No. 1 and roughly $38.9 million in career prize money.

How the Racket Fits Her Game

Azarenka plays hard, flat and early, taking the ball on the rise and pushing opponents from corner to corner. Her backhand, especially down the line, is her signature, and her return of serve is among the best in WTA history. A 100-square-inch frame like the Ultra gives her a generous sweet spot for returning big serves and enough easy power to hit through the court without huge swings. It suits a player who wants to take time away from her opponent rather than grind with heavy topspin.

If You Want to Play Like Her

• Wilson Ultra 100 (current generation): the closest retail equivalent to the racket she chose even without a contract. A powerful, forgiving 100-square-inch frame that suits intermediate players and upward.
• Head Extreme MP: if you want to try the racket of her early years, a spin-friendly alternative.
• Yonex EZONE 100: her brief 2017-2018 frame, and a comfortable, powerful option in its own right.

A tip from her game: practise taking the ball early on your backhand, stepping in rather than backing up. That habit, more than any racket, is the Azarenka secret.

Quick Summary

• Brand history: Head (juniors to about 2012), Wilson (2012 to 2017), Yonex (2017 to 2018), Wilson again (2018 onwards; re-signed after 2020)
• Key models: Head Extreme, Wilson Ultra 100, Yonex EZONE 100
• Clothing and shoes: Nike
• Titles: 21 WTA singles titles, including the 2012 and 2013 Australian Opens
• Status in 2026: inactive since ending her 2025 season early; no retirement announced

Last updated: September 2026