Victoria Azarenka is hoping to enter the Australian Open via wildcard after submitting a formal request.
The former world No.1 hasn’t played a match since Wimbledon due to an ongoing custody battle with her former partner. Azarenka gave birth to a baby boy called Leo last December. A court order earlier this year ruled that Leo must stay in California until the dispute between Azarenka and her former partner, Billy McKeague, is resolved. Resulting in her absence from the tour.
News of Azarenka’s Australian Open plan was confirmed by New York Times journalist Christopher Clarey. A highly respected reporter, who has worked in the industry for many years and wrote a special feature on Azarenka back in April.
Victoria Azarenka not on the Australian Open entry list but she intends to play. Has requested a wild card. Have to like her chances of getting one as 2-time champ but if not, has the ranking to enter qualifying. Still intends to start season in Auckland
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) 7 December 2017
At a current ranking of 210th, the 28-year-old is currently not ranked high enough to get direct entry into the first grand slam of 2018. Azarenka has only played two tournaments on the tour since returning to the tour. At the Wimbledon championships, she reached the fourth round before losing to Simona Halep.
A two-time winner of the Australian Open, Azarenka has a strong case to be presented with a wildcard by the organisers. If she is unsuccessful, she will have to play in the qualifying draw a week before. Something she hasn’t done at a major since the 2006 French Open.
Azarenka is set to return to action at the ASB Classic in Auckland. A WTA International tournament that will take place during the first week of January. She will be aiming to win her 21st WTA title and her first since the 2016 Miami Open.
