New York, Aug 22.- Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from the 2017 U.S. Open due to an ''ongoing family situation.''
Azarenka released the following statement: 'I am sadly unable to compete in this year's U.S. Open due to my ongoing family situation that I am working through'.
Last week, Azarenka released a statement explaining the details of the custody dispute with her child's father.
'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 U.S. Open this year is if I leave Leo behind in California, which I'm not willing to do,' Azarenka wrote.
After Azarenka and Billy McKeague split up in July, McKeague filed for custody for their eight-month old son, Leo, in California. Until the dispute is settled, the child cannot leave the state. Azarenka reportedly has a valid custody order from Belarus, but the judge won't defer to the Belarus court.
The dispute is reportedly not going to end before October at the earliest; the U.S. Open kicks off on Aug. 28 to Sept 10.
Azarenka is currently ranked No. 204 and returned to tennis in June after taking time off to give birth to her son.
Japanese Misa Eguchi will replace Azarenka.