Azarenka quits US Open amid custody fight

NEW YORK - Two-time US Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka confirmed her withdrawal from the tournament on Monday amid a custody battle concerning her eight-month-old son.

Victoria Azarenka

Azarenka, who indicated last week she might miss the tournament rather than travel to New York without her son Leo, confirmed her withdrawal in a statement.

"I am sadly unable to compete in this year's US Open due to my ongoing family situation that I am working through," the Belarusian star said.

"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 reached the final in 2012 and 2013 but was beaten by Serena Williams on both occasions.

The 28-year-old said last week she would skip Flushing Meadows rather than be separated from her baby.

Her decision came after a Los Angeles judge presiding in her custody case with the boy's father, Billy McKeague, said the child could not leave California until the matter was resolved.

Azarenka, ranked No 204 after a long pregnancy layoff, played last month at Wimbledon, reaching the last 16 before losing to second-ranked Simona Halep.

"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," Azarenka said last week.

"I look forward to hopefully having positive developments soon so that this difficult situation can be resolved and I can get back to competing.

"I don't believe any parent should be put in the position of having to decide between their child or their career."

Agence France-presse