Azarenka fires volley at Inverdale over ‘woof ’ jibe

Victoria Azarenka has hit out at BBC commentator John Inverdale, describing his commentary of her and mixed doubles partner Jamie Murray’s action as “horrendous”. The player was left bemused by the remark “Azarenka’s second serve – woof!”

After the Belarusian former world No1 and two-time grand slam singles champion and her Scottish partner demolished the young British wild-card duo of Harriet Dart and Jay Clarke in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, in a fast and furious encounter on Court No1 to book a place in tomorrow’s final, she was asked about tweets she had posted on Thursday evening after she and Murray had come through their quarter-final.

First, she wrote: “We are just rewatching our mixed doubles now … whoever is commentating this match is just comical and not in a good way …” Azarenka followed up with a video of herself on Twitter, listening to Inverdale describe the “most convincing service she’s had in a long time”, while nodding sarcastically.

She said: “I think it was more irony in my tweet, I don’t think it is frustration, I think it is pretty amazing that there are people who are not so knowledgeable commentating on the tennis.” She added: “I will leave you with what he said, ‘Azarenka’s second serve ‘woof ’!” Asked what she thought Inverdale had meant, she said: “I have no idea. It was horrendous.”

In 2013, the BBC received more than 700 complaints after Inverdale criticised Marion Bartoli’s appearance.