ISTANBUL, Turkey – When asked to discuss the thought process that led her to remain on court even as she screamed, cried and struggled to walk – let alone compete – there was no mistaking the pointed choice of words that trickled out of Victoria Azarenka’s mouth in her loss to Li Na.

“Well, there are a few reasons why,” she offered. “It’s a no-win situation here retiring, and the other thing is I just try to do my best.”

Other reasons followed, of course. In fact, it was abundantly clear Azarenka had prepared in advance for the questions she knew were coming after her interesting decision to continue playing a match she had no chance of winning. She presented them all like a saleswoman charged with the role of cleanly closing out a sale. Before the question had even reached its end, she was on it with a multitude of reasons.

“I don't have a tournament next week,” she continued. “The physio told me I’m really locked – there is really no structural damage, but you can't fix it that quickly. “

And a third reason briskly followed.

“But most importantly, I just wanted to try to do my best for the fans who came and watched our match, for respect for my opponent.  It was just about trying to do the most you can out there.”

For once, the situation was blissfully simple. Serving at 2-3 in the second set, Azarenka attempted an uncharacteristic, in comparison to her usual speeds, bomb of a 109mph serve. By the time she landed, the trouble was clear. She bent over, fell forward and immediately struggled to move.

“I don't know. I just really locked my back,” she reflected. “Everything just can't move to one side … I don't know what really happened. Just a bad movement and really just everything moved, big spasm.  No flexibility.”

Treatment followed, but even as it rapidly became clear that her contention in the match was kaput, Azarenka refused to throw the towel in. With every game, a collective breath was held in anticipation of the retirement that was surely on its way. But each time, she stumbled past the umpire’s chair and it never came.

It was irony at its peak. Not unlike her second-ranked male counterpart, the years haven’t been kind to Azarenka’s reputation. Over the course of her career, her reputation has developed, whether rightly or wrongly, into that of someone widely known as a player prone to retirements at the first sign of trouble. And the stats bear them out – between constant sniping from Sharapova and others, but particularly the Russian with her famed “Is her last name Jankovic?” and “extremely injured” comments after medical timeouts in Beijing four years ago and Madrid last year – the Belarusian has amassed 27 retirements and withdrawals over the course of her far from lengthy career.

So here was the woman who retires, who always retires, standing tall in the face of retirement. Many theories immediately swirled, and it was clear to most that her change of attitude was perhaps down to the happenings of nine months earlier, when all hell broke loose: her controversial semifinal win at the Australian Open over Sloane Stephens.

It was anticipated, all right. For the American media, any match between a defending Grand Slam champion and the young hope that downed Serena Williams one match earlier is hyped. But an hour in, the hype machine had fallen deathly silent. A break became a set, which in turn became a set and break lead. Before long, Azarenka was serving for a place in her second consecutive Australian Open final.

What happened next is confined to the realms of tennis history. The incensed outrage, the flaccid misquoting and the grand release of Azarenka’s emotions after triumphing in Australia were a topic of debate for weeks. It may have just been one single incident, but the lasting mark left on Azarenka’s mind perhaps suggests that the world number two may finally be ready to change.