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A18 SPORTS
Saturday 19 auguSt 2017
Azarenka says she might skip

U.S. Open because of child issue

By HOWARD FENDRICH “As we work to resolve Australia.
AP Tennis Writer some of the legal process- Wimbledon was Azaren-
Two-time Australian Open es, the way things stand ka’s first major tournament
champion Victoria Azaren- now is that the only way I in more than a year. She
ka says her participation in can play in the U.S. Open currently is ranked 204th.
the U.S. Open is in doubt this year is if I leave Leo be- “Balancing child care and
because she might not be hind in California,” Azaren- a career is not easy for any
able to bring her son with ka wrote, “which I’m not parent, but it is a challenge
her to New York as a result willing to do.” I am willing to face and
of her separation from the The U.S. Open starts Aug. embrace. I want to support
In this Sept. 3, 2015, file photo, Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, baby’s father. 28. men and women every-
returns a shot to Yanina Wickmayer, of Belgium, during the
second round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, in New York. Azarenka wrote via a post- “I remain optimistic that in where who know it is OK to
Associated Press ing on Twitter on Thursday the coming days Leo’s fa- be a working mother — or
that she is “faced with a ther and I can put aside father. No one should ever
difficult situation which any differences and take have to decide between a
may not allow me to return steps in the right direction child and their career, we
to work right away.” to more effectively work as are strong enough to do
Added Azarenka, who a team and agree on an both,” Azarenka wrote.
used to be No. 1 in the WTA arrangement for all three “I am incredibly grateful
rankings: “No parent should of us to travel and for me for all of the support I have
have to decide between to compete,” Azarenka received from women and
their child or their career.” wrote, “but, more impor- men around the world who
The 28-year-old from Belar- tantly, to ensure that Leo recognize the importance
us gave birth to Leo, her first has a consistent presence of supporting working
child, in December, then from both of his parents.” moms and our right to be
returned to the tour in June. Azarenka was the runner- with our children,” she said.
She said that shortly after up in New York in 2012 and “I look forward to hopefully
Wimbledon — where Aza- 2013, losing in the final each having positive develop-
renka lost to Simona Halep year to Serena Williams. ments soon so that this dif-
in the fourth round on July Those were also the years ficult situation can be re-
10 — she separated from that Azarenka won her two solved and I can get back
her son’s father. Grand Slam singles titles in to competing.”q

Cincinnati

Continued from Previous Page
Kyrgios overcame a sloppy
first set to reach his first Cin-
cinnati quarterfinal with a
4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3 win over Ivo
Karlovic. In the women’s
bracket, defending cham-
pion Pliskova beat quali-
fier Camila Giorgi 6-3, 4-6,
6-0 in the completion of a
suspended match. Pliskova
was up 3-0 in the first set
when rain moved in Thurs- Karolina Pliskova, of the Czech Republic, returns to Caroline
day night, forcing her to sit Wozniacki, of Denmark, at the Western & Southern Open tennis
for hours and wait. She was tournament, Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in Mason, Ohio.
scheduled to face a rested Associated Press
Caroline Wozniacki later on pecially in the third set. I the way I’m playing and
Friday. “Tough conditions know I won, but I’m sure the way I’m going through
from yesterday with the she feels like it was a great these tough matches be-
rain delay and everything,” match as well, because cause, you know, I’ve got
Pliskova sad. “So, happy I it was a tough battle and to dig in and somehow win
made it.” very hot out there.” them,” she said. “For sure,
Wimbledon champion Muguruza’s win came less even if I didn’t win a tour-
Garbine Muguruza had than 24 hours after she nament, I’m very happy
another long match as she spent 2 hours, 18 minutes that I’m getting deep into
reached the quarterfinals, on the court and fought off the tournament.”
beating Svetlana Kuznetso- three match points to beat Wild-card Sloane Stephens
va 6-2, 5-7, 7-5. The match Madison Keys in the round also prevailed in a post-
went 2 hours, 45 minutes — of 16. poned march, defeating
her longest of the tourna- Muguruza has reached Ekaterina Makarova 2-6,
ment. the semifinals of two of the 6-3, 6-4 to set up a quar-
“I think it was one of the three tournaments she’s terfinal meeting with Julia
best matches of the year,” entered since winning Goerges, who upset fifth-
Muguruza said. “I think we Wimbledon. seeded Elina Svitolina, 7-5,
both played very well, es- “You know, I’m happy with 6-4.q