Former World No.1 and two-time champion, Victoria Azarenka has pulled out of next month’s Australian Open 2020 due to personal reasons. The Belarusian withdrew from the first Grand Slam of the season prior to the entry deadline on Saturday.

Victoria Azarenka is the only player among the top 50 men and women to not feature at the Australian Open 2020. According to reports, Azarenka’s team has cited ‘personal reasons’ of her withdrawal. Amid retirement rumours, her team revealed that the 30-year-old is planning to return to the tour after the Australian Open.

Injury-prone 2019 season

Victoria Azarenka reached her first WTA singles final in three years at the Monterrey Open in April. However, the two-time Grand Slam champion was forced to pull out of the title match against Garbine Muguruza due to a leg injury.

Azarenka was then forced to retire against Anett Kontaveit in the quarterfinals of the Stuttgart Open due to a shoulder injury. She also withdrew from the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open in September due to a shoulder injury. The Belarusian has not played a single match since the US Open 2019 as she called off her season early.

Furthermore, Victoria Azarenka and Ashleigh Barty doubles partnership came to an end towards the end of the season before the WTA Finals. Earlier, the duo had made it to the US Open 2019 final and claimed the title at Rome Masters.

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Victoria Azarenka’s personal problems

On 20 December 2016, Azarenka gave birth to a baby boy named Leo. However, she subsequently split from her husband and a custody battle ensued for their son.

Azarenka’s role as a parent and a professional tennis player has been even tougher than she imagined. Earlier, she skipped the 2017 US Open two years ago and last year’s 2018 Australian Open as she could not leave her California home until the custody dispute of her son had been settled. The custody of Azarenka’s son could also be a reason for her absence from the 2020 Australian Open.

Furthermore, Azarenka has not made an entry in the first week of the season in Brisbane, Shenzhen and Auckland and in the second week Hobart and the inaugural event in Adelaide. Victoria Azarenka has not won a WTA singles title since 2016 and her fans would want to see her in action soon in the 2020 season.