Pironkova also making the last eight, it marked the first time in Grand Slam history that three mothers advanced to the quarterfinals. She defeated Elise Mertens in the quarterfinals, and achieved her first ever Grand Slam victory over Serena Williams in three sets in the semifinals. She proceeded to a Grand Slam final for the first time since the 2013 US Open, where she lost to Osaka, despite leading by a set and a break. Despite the loss, Azarenka's ranking rose to No. 14, her highest ranking since January 2017. In the clay-court swing, which started the following week at the Italian Open, she had victories over Venus Williams and reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. The win over Kenin was the tenth double bagel in Azarenka's career, and her first on clay since 2011. After a third-round win due to Daria Kasatkina's retirement, she was defeated by Garbiñe Muguruza in the quarterfinals. However, at a cold and grey Roland-Garros, Azarenka was defeated in straight sets by Anna Karolina Schmeidlova in the second round, having courted attention in the previous round for leaving the court mid-match after complaining to tournament staff about the playing conditions. At the end of the season, Azarenka entered the Ostrava Open as the fourth seed in singles. She reached the finals, but was defeated by Sabalenka in straight sets, in a final in which she said she had struggled with a migraine. 2021: Tournament withdrawals, late season resurgence, Indian Wells final In 2021, Azarenka first played at the Grampians Trophy, a tournament organised for players affected by the hard quarantine imposed upon those who travelled on flights that contained positive results for COVID-19. She defeated Yulia Putintseva in the second round. She withdrew prior to her match in the quarterfinals against Anett Kontaveit, citing a lower back injury. Azarenka disappointed at the Australian Open, losing in the first round to the unseeded Jessica Pegula. At Doha, Azarenka defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova and Laura Siegemund in straight sets, before facing Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals. Azarenka was afflicted by a lower-back injury throughout the match. Despite this, Azarenka defeated Svitolina in straight sets. She withdrew before her match against eventual runner-up and world No. 16 Garbiñe Muguruza. She withdrew from Dubai, citing a back injury. Her next tournament was the Miami Open. In receipt of a second round bye, she received a walkover from Laura Siegemund into