INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Four years ago, Victoria Azarenka arrived at this juncture of the BNP Paribas Open feeling invincible.

Riding the crest on a 20-match unbeaten run that had taken her to Australian Open glory and top of the rankings, Azarenka looked set to embark on a period of dominance at the summit of the women’s game.

However, it has not panned out quite like that for the Belarusian, whose status as her generation’s standard bearer has been undermined by a succession of injuries.

Azarenka would go on to defend her Australian Open crown and reach a couple of finals at the US Open – both times coming out on the losing side in classic battles with Serena Williams. Yet problems – of varying severity – to feet, ankles and back soon saw Azarenka spending as much time on the treatment table as the court.

Her absence was keenly felt, robbing the sport of the one player perhaps capable of challenging Williams’ hegemony. After a number of false dawns, this season Azarenka finally looks in a position to resume this rivalry.

Now ranked No.15, Azarenka can return to the Top 10 by reclaiming the title she first lifted during her annus mirabilis. And while her fitness woes have tested her patience, the 26-year-old has never lost sight of the end goal.

“I’m in a different stage of my career. You know, I think getting to No.1 of course it’s a goal. My main goal is to win Grand Slams. That’s that I want really bad and that’s what I’m working towards. I always think that ranking is a bonus that comes with it. Once you have results, you win tournaments, it comes automatically.

“And at first it was something that you just, you want to get there since you’re a kid. You know, it’s a big dream. And once you achieve it, sometimes it brings the level of motivation down. Right now my level of motivation is different. I’m not that kid with a big dream of becoming No.1. I have been there.”

Azarenka started the year like a freight train, romping to the title in Brisbane then cantering through the opening week of the Australian Open. Many tipped her for a third title Down Under, but it was not to be, an inspired Angelique Kerber – whom Azarenka had outclassed in the Brisbane final – dashing the dream.

Worryingly for the rest of the tour, and quarterfinal foe Magdalena Rybarikova, she insists the best is yet to come: “Oh, I don’t think I am close to fulfilling my potential. Just to see what I can do on practice court and physically what I can improve, I’m far from that. That’s what I’m looking forward to improve.”

Perhaps burnt by her experience in Melbourne, or just eager to make up for lost time, the former No.1 is leaving no stone unturned in her pursuit of tennis’ biggest prizes.

“Now I don’t really think ahead. There is a difference between creating a big picture and goals, to set the goals where you work day in and day out towards. But what’s going to happen, I don’t really think about it. I just want to make sure that on every single day I do whatever I can. I think the great quote, you know, anybody can outwork you, but nobody will out prepare me.”