Although the season-end world number one has not finished 2012 by reaching Sunday's final of the WTA Championships - after losing to a fiercely determined Maria Sharapova - she has nevertheless finished it as something more than the sport's leading woman.
Azarenka feels that she has changed herself not only as a tennis player, but as a character - which may be even more ominous for many of her rivals.
"I finished the year with a different....I am a different person," she asserted, increasing the emphasis of her description in mid-sentence.
"Not different person, but a much more mature person, a much more mature player, and I am very proud of that too," Azarenka added, correcting herself again as the emotion of her achievements affected her.
"The whole year was a lot of learning experience, trying new things and taking the whole journey with the good and the tough, and a few bads.
"But I didn't have many of those. I cannot complain this year. I take it all. It gives me great pleasure from this moment to enjoy my three weeks (holiday) and be happy about it."
Her break-through 2012 included winning her first Grand Slam title, the Australian Open in Melbourne, climbing to world number one for the first time, then losing the top spot to Sharapova, but regaining it with the capture of six titles during the year.
During these successes she learnt to accept losses better, not to get down on herself so much, to enjoy the touring life more, to adopt a more cheerful persona, and in the process of stabilising and expanding her emotional capacity, to come closer to realising her full potential.
That process famously began back in February last year, when Azarenka briefly considered quitting the game. She was talked out of it by her mother, and then coaxed by her grandmother into realising just how much she had compared with most others.
The result has been that her tendencies to explode and self-destruct on court have greatly reduced. Add her age, which is 23, making only Petra Kvitova a younger top ten player, and she may be capable of spells when she dominates in future.
"No I'm really proud of what I've done the whole year," Azarenka said.
"I started the year with number three (ranking) and I finished with number one.
"In numbers it doesn't seem like a huge jump, but we all know in reality it's a pretty big difference."
She added: "When I left the court (here in Istanbul) I felt that the crowd was supporting so much, and they appreciated...I kind of felt like they appreciated my whole year, what I did. It was amazing."
Azarenka now has to recover from the thigh injury with which she started the last match against Sharapova, and which worsened during it, and then to agree on a new training plan after her three-week break.
She may also wish to take to a new level her increased capacity for hitting an attacking ball from on or inside the baseline, and to develop the courage and willingness to move into the forecourt more often.
Azarenka may need to enhance her psychological skills as well - especially as her first major goal of 2013 involves a completely new and difficult experience, and will come early.
This is her first ever defence of a Grand Slam title, at the Australian Open in Melbourne, beginning on January 14th. It will require a new kind of mental discipline. As a changed character, she has a better chance of achieving it.
I'm a different person: Victoria Azarenka
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