Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka has pulled out from next week’s Australian Open due to a continuing legal battle for the custody of her son with her former partner.
Azarenka, who won the Open in 2012 and 2013, was in serious doubt for the event in Melbourne after withdrawing from the Auckland Classic last week. Since the birth of her son in December 2016, Azarenka has been fighting an ugly battle with her ex-boyfriend over his custody.
The Belarusian, who is currently based in the United States hasn’t played since July when she took part in the Wimbledon Championships in London. However, she isn’t allowed to move out of California with her son until she is granted permission by the court or the custody is awarded to her.
“It’s unfortunate that ‘Vika’ is unable to travel to Australia this year. The Australian Open is her favourite tournament and she’s looking forward to returning to Melbourne next year,” tournament director Craig Tiley said.
Azarenka was granted a wildcard to take part in the tournament and her wildcard has now been offered to Australian Ajla Tomljanovic. Tomljanovic’s own career was in doldrums after she underwent shoulder surgery and slipped to as low as 930 in the rankings at the end of 2016. But, she recently found her form, reaching the second round of the Brisbane International and rising to No. 108 in the world.
Tomljanovic will be the ninth Australian women to take part in the competition after Destanee Aiava, Ashleigh Barty, Daria Gavrilova, Samantha Stosur, Arina Rodionova, Jaimee Fourlis, Olivia Rogowska and Kimberly Birrell confirmed their places for the season’s opening Major, which gets underway next Monday in the Victorian capital, Melbourne.
