Two-time champion and former world No1 Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. Azarenka had been in extreme doubt after pulling out of last week’s Auckland Classic amid an ongoing custody battle with her former partner over their son Leo. The Australian Open is her favourite tournament and she’s looking forward to returning to Melbourne next year,” Open tournament director Craig Tiley said. Her scratching has opened the door for Australian Ajla Tomljanovic to replace the Belarusian with a wildcard entry to the season’s first grand slam event starting next Monday. Azarenka is one of a number of big names to have withdrawn from the grand slam, including new mother Serena Williams and Andy Murray.

Source: The Guardian January 08, 2018 02:04 UTC