TENNIS in DEPTH.

 Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka are laughing at themselves. They were the first of the WTA players to participate in the two-day fashion shoot at the airport, and they took in the event with a mixture of anxiety, good cheer and camaraderie.

They’re in tiny dresses, skyscraper heels, with hair styled in a way that can only be described as quiff-couture and trowel-loads of hot pink make-up. And they’re screaming with uncontrollable laughter.

Asked by an increasingly exasperated photographer and shoot director to act angry, fierce and pull at each other’s jewellery as if they were fighting in front of an audience of surprised duty-free shoppers the two friends collapse into giggles every time they caught sight of the other’s quiff.

“It’s too funny,” Azarenka says as she tries to catch her breath. “It’s hard to act angry off the court. Can we do something like we like each other? At the end?” It’s fascinating to see the friendships that exist on the ten-month tour. While an outsider might think it’s a lonely, competitive existence where you have more rivals than mates, Wozniacki and Azarenka are quick to dispel that myth.

“It’s a great life we have,” says Danish star Wozniacki. “We play tennis and that’s what I love to do and to be able to live from your hobby is just great. “I have a lot of friends on the tour, Victoria is one of my best friends. It’s nice to have some good friendships on the tour.” Azarenka, sitting nearby having her hair styled, shoots back a retort. “We’re friends?” Wozniacki pauses for a moment. “So you’re not one of my good friends?”

“Well, I’m one of yours. But I don’t know if you’re one of mine,” deadpans Azarenka, before they both start to laugh. “On the court, of course we want to win and we have the rivalry, but once we’re off the court we’re good friends again,” says Wozniacki. “We eat dinner we go to the movies, we go shopping.”

Azarenka adds that she’s planning a holiday with some of her tennis mates. “It’s normal for us, we compete, we see each other every week, so you get to know people. I like these girls and we always hang out.”

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