Victoria Azarenka won't be in New York during the upcoming 2017 Us Open, the final Grand Slam of the calendar year. The two-time Australian Open champion and former World No. 1 is in the middle of a custody battle with her child's father. Last week Azarenka originally hinted that she might not be at Flushing Meadows. The official news came on Monday, a topic that was addressed on the US Open's website.
“I am sadly unable to compete in this year's US Open due to my ongoing family situation that I am working through,” Azarenka claimed (qtd. August 21st by Erin Maher).
“While I will dearly miss being in New York and playing in one of my favorite tournaments where I have enjoyed some of the best moments in my career, I am already looking forward to being back next year.”
Azarenka in custody battle
The problem with the custody battle has to do with not being able to take the child out of the state of California. Previously Azarenka said that she's not willing to travel to New York while leaving her child behind out west. Azarenka had previously missed the tour long term with her maternity leave and she has played a sparse schedule since regaining her fitness. A few weeks ago she pulled out of the WTA Stanford draw in California and also pulled out of the Cincinnati draw last week.
At Stanford she cited illness while Cincinnati's withdrawal had to do with the personal reasons. She did make the fourth round of Wimbledon and appeared to be getting back to good form at that point.
As for the impact on the upcoming tennis tournament, the draw will certainly be a little lighter in New York without Azarenka.
Before going on maternity leave in 2016 she was an absolute tyrant on the hard court surface, ripping through both Indian Wells and Miami with a victory over Serena Williams en route. In pulling out Azarenka joins Williams as high-profile players that will not be at the 2017 US Open. Timea Bacsinszky is another player that will miss the tournament, as she has a wrist injury.
Fans will have to wait until 2018
Azarenka can still contest numerous draws that will be played between now and the end of the 2017 season. However, as for majors, her fans won't be able to see her contest a draw in a Grand Slam until at least the 2018 Australian Open. If she hits top form then, she promises to be a threat in that draw. However, right now her tennis career is overshadowed by her personal life as she continues to work with her child's father on the matter of custody.
