Belarus is less known for its tennis than neighbouring Russia. However, over the past year the country has managed to deliver an increasing number of players onto the WTA tour.

Belarus can now boast two top 50 players in the world and both of these talents have enough skill to go even higher, and sooner rather than later. Belarus has been firmly put on the tennis map and major success is not far away.

Victoria Azarenka is a class act. Currently destroying her opponents in the Prague Open the youngster has been a revelation on the WTA tour since her breakthrough in 2007. 

'Victoria Azarenka is a class act. The youngster has been a revelation on the WTA tour since her breakthrough in 2007'


She is still only 18 but has already had a fair amount of success and seems to be getting stronger and more experienced with every match she plays.

She is learning from her mistakes, building up her confidence and is being rewarded for her efforts. Already world number 26 Azarenka has what it takes to be at least a top 10 player and has the power game to mix it with the best of the WTA tour.

Although 2008 has been less successful than 2007 so far, she is coming back to form with the start of the clay court season, a surface she obviously loves as she reached the final in Estoril last year and the semis in Prague.

She can play on any surface and at the later end of 2007 she reached the quarter finals in Los Angeles, Moscow and Luxembourg and had brilliant wins over Maria Sharapova, Nadia Petrova and Agnieska Radwanska.

She is a top player and I think a good run at this year's French Open will make her the first player from Belarus since Natasha Zvereva to break into the WTA top 20.

Olga Govortsova is equally as talented as Victoria. At only 20 the young player made huge strides up the rankings last year while playing on mainly the challenger circuit at low-key events. However on the US hardcourt season at the end of 2007 she stepped up to the main WTA tour with considerable success reaching the quarter finals in Cincinnati, Quebec and Stanford and also reached semi-finals in Tashkent.

I think Govortsova just needs a little more consistency in her game to make the next step up from top 50 player to potential top 20 player, she certainly has the talent!  She is one of the most hard working players on the tour and won an incredible 68 matches in 2007.

in 2008 Govortsova has already reached her first WTA tour final, losing in Memphis by Lindsay Davenport.

Both Azarenka and Govortsova are young enough to keep Belarussia on the tennis map for many years to come.

Even younger is Anna Orlik who is a great prospect at only 15 and success could be soon around the corner for the brilliant junior.

Watch out Russia, Belarus is catching you fast!