Victoria Azarenka instructed to take away PSG jersey at Australian Open: I do it for my very own causes

Former two-time winner Victoria Azarenka was ordered to take away her PSG jersey throughout her Australian Open semi-final match. Azarenka crashed out after shedding to Elena Rybakina.

New Delhi ,UPDATED: Jan 26, 2023 20:12 IST

Victoria Azarenka arrived on court docket in a PSG jersey for her semi-final match. (Reuters Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: A self-confessed ‘obnoxious soccer mother’ Victoria Azarenka was requested to take away her Paris St.Germain (PSG) jersey throughout her Australian Open 2023 semi-final match on Thursday.

Azarenka, who returned to the Australian Open last-four after a decade, had arrived in a PSG jersey on court docket on the Rod Laver Arena for a conflict towards the 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina.

The 33-year-old Azarenka wore the jersey in assist of the French membership PSG and as a gesture to her 6-year-old son Leo, who’s a fan of the membership. However, Azarenka needed to take away the jersey following an alternate of phrases with the chair umpire earlier than heading to a warm-up in her common package.

“They told me to take it off twice because I had a different shirt,” Azarenka mentioned after getting knocked out following a 6(4)-7, 3-6 loss to Rybakina. “I think it’s the issue with the sponsorships. I guess the logos are too big … I know that I’m not allowed to play in that. I knew those type of things.

“But I can nonetheless step on the court docket in what I wish to step on the court docket. I do it for my very own causes. My son wore the white jersey at the moment to his apply, and I attempted to put on a white jersey to my match however could not. So that is okay.”

The former Australian Open winner Azarenka could not match with Rybakina as her errors grew during the match.

“I’m pleased with myself how I fought and I attempted, however simply was not — tennis-wise I felt like (I) simply wasn’t there, particularly within the necessary moments once I saved creating these alternatives,” said Azarenka.

“Not a terrific feeling proper now to digest. But give me a few hours and I can have in all probability a greater outlook on this month in Australia. I sit up for, all year long, what I can do.”

Published On:

Jan 26, 2023