Victoria Azarenka may be set to miss the upcoming US Open over an ongoing custody battle with Billy McKeague, her ex-boyfriend and the father of their son Leo.
In an impassioned personal note to her fans released via her Twitter account, Azarenka explained her situation:
Shortly after Wimbledon, Leo’s father and I separated and as we work to resolve some of the legal processes, the way things stand now is that the only way I can play in the US Open this year is if I leave Leo behind in California, which I’m not willing to do.
It appears an ongoing custody battle with her former partner and Leo's father means she cannot leave California with her son, at least without his permission.
With the two-week tournament taking place in its usual home of Flushing Meadows, New York, Azarenka is the latest star to pull out. Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka are all confirmed absentees - both Roger Federer and Andy Murray are injury doubts also.
The nature in which the Belarusian former world No. 1 has had to step back will touch many however. Having not long returned to the professional circuit after giving birth in December 2016, Azarenka described how,
Balancing child care and a career is not easy for any parent, but it is a challenge I am willing to face and embrace ... No one should ever have to decide between a child and their career, we are strong enough to do both.
Ultimately however, Azarenka, now ranked 204 by the WTA after her prolonged absence, will chose to sacrifice her career in this instance.
The two-time Australian Open winner was adamant that she and her child's father would do all they could to reach an amicable conclusion:
I remain optimistic that in the coming days Leo’s father and I can put aside any differences and take steps in the right direction to more effectively work as a team and agree on an arrangement for all three of us to travel and for me to compete but, more importantly to ensure that Leo has a consistent presence from both of his parents.
While it remains possible that Azarenka may yet feature in the final major event of the calendar year, the likelihood is that the two-time finalist will forgo the opportunity to compete.
