USA Today via Reuters
Mar 14, 2022; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Victoria Azarenka (BEL) is over come with emotion as she leans her head on her racket during the middle of the second set of her third round match against Elena Rybakina (not pictured) during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 14, 2022; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Victoria Azarenka (BEL) is over come with emotion as she leans her head on her racket during the middle of the second set of her third round match against Elena Rybakina (not pictured) during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
On Sunday, the tennis world witnessed a rather bizarre incident at the Miami Open involving Victoria Azarenka. During her third-round match against 16-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova, the two-time Grand Slam champion stormed off the court without citing any reason to the umpire.?
Later, the Belarusian released a statement to explain the reason behind her mid-match retirement. While Azarenka’s reaction is understandable considering the global situation at present, initial reactions stated that the gesture was not at all respectable towards her young opponent.
Meanwhile, former tennis player Daniela Hantuchova wants the WTA to do a proper investigation of the incident.?
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USA Today via Reuters
Oct 17, 2021; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Victoria Azarenka (BLR) hits a shot during the women?s final against Paula Badosa (ESP) during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Hantuchova wants WTA to investigate the Victoria Azarenka incident at Miami Open
In a recent interview, the former Slovak player said, “The most impertinent thing is how she left the field without giving any reason. I think the WTA will have to investigate. For me, the gesture is very strange and totally disrespectful to the public, the referee and the more important than Linda. I think Vika knew that if she played the same way, she would be out of the field very soon. But the way she did it is bad behavior.”?
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 14, 2022; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Chair umpire Paula Vieira Souza talks with Victoria Azarenka (BEL) as she is over come with emotion during the middle of the second set of her third round match against Elena Rybakina (not pictured) during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
What?s next for Azarenka?
Azarenka?s match against Linda was disappointing for so many reasons. The Belarusian player was losing terribly as the score was 2-6,0-3 before she decided to walk out of the court.?
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The Belarusian’s statement after the match read, ?I shouldn’t have gone on the court today, The last few weeks have been extremely stressful in my personal life. Last match took so much out of me, but I wanted to play in front of a great audience as they helped me pull through my first match. I wanted to go out there and try but it was a mistake. I hope to take a break and be able to come back.?
‘I shouldn’t have gone on court today.’
Full statement from Victoria Azarenka after her match retirement yesterday: pic.twitter.com/FmgaYNdRwk
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) March 28, 2022
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It might not have been easy for Victoria Azarenka to sail through tournaments and even though there is no clarity on why she wanted to take a break from tennis, the Belarusian’s presence will always enrich the WTA tour. Notably, Azarenka also had a similar breakdown during her third round match at Indian Wells against Elena Rybakina.
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