Azarenka to miss Cincinnati because of ‘family matter’

Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters because of a ‘family matter’. The decision means that the former US Open finalist will not play any lead-up events ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open.

The news also appears to confirm the news that Azarenka is in the middle of a bitter custody battle with her former partner, Billy McKeague.

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It has been widely reported that McKeague and Azarenka split recently, with McKeague filing for custody of their son, Leo. As a result, a judge is thought to have instructed Azarenka not to leave the state of California with her son.

According to entertainment site TMZ, the case is due to be resolved in October, and so places Azarenka’s participation at the US Open in doubt. It is thought she had offered to pay for – and house – McKeague in New York with their son, but he declined.

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Azarenka has already obtained one valid custody order in her native Belarus, but the California judge deemed that a separate order needed to be sought in the US.

In other Cincinnati news, Marin Cilic has also announced that he is withdrawing from the tournament with an abductor injury. He joins Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic as top ten absentees.