Victoria Azarenka was ordered to take off a shirt she was carrying in a weird scene forward of her Australian Open semi-final loss on Thursday night time.
After an exhilarating first set, reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina clinched the tiebreaker and gained the match 7-6, 6-3.
Earlier than the match, Azarenka walked into the Rod Laver Area carrying a Paris Saint-Germain soccer jersey, however referee Alison Hughes shortly eliminated it.
The 33-year-old had worn the Paris Saint-Germain shirt on the sector earlier than lots of her matches at Melbourne Park, explaining that she wears it as a result of it’s the membership that her son Leo helps and needs to play for in the future.
Azarenka had additionally worn the jersey throughout press conferences, however the referee instructed her to take it off and heat up within the uniform she could be taking part in in.
The 2-time Australian Open champion caught to the steerage and stated she thought it was a sponsorship subject.
“They requested me to take it off twice as a result of I used to be carrying a special shirt,” Azarenka stated in her post-match press convention. “I believe it is the sponsorship subject. I believe logos are too massive… I do know I am not allowed to play in that. I knew that type of factor.
“However I can nonetheless step on the courtroom in what I wish to step on the courtroom. I do it for my very own causes. My son wore a white jersey as we speak for his follow, and I attempted to put on a white jersey for my match however I could not. In order that’s superb.”
Victoria Azarenka hits the ball annoyed on the Australian Open.
Elena Rybakina superior to the ultimate of the Australian Open.
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Victoria Azarenka hits a backhand within the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
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Azarenka was vying to change into the fourth girl to win a Grand Slam event after turning into a mom however fell in need of the uncommon feat.
Saturday’s closing will witness Rikabena’s confrontation with Arina Sabalenka, after the Belarusian participant defeated Poland’s Magda Linette 7-6, 6-2 within the different semi-final.
Azarenka wasn’t within the temper for reporters after her shedding streak.
The veteran was requested a thorny query in her post-match press convention about Russian nationalists staging an indication in assist of President Vladimir Putin exterior Rod Laver Area.
On Thursday, Novak Djokovic’s father, Sardan, appeared He posed for a photograph with group members, together with a person carrying a T-shirt with a pro-war “Z” image on it. The demonstration, which adopted Djokovic’s win over Andrey Rublev on Wednesday night time, was a vital speaking level, however Azarenka, who performs below a impartial flag as a Belarusian, cleared the strings of questions.
Azarenka Trade with one reporter She turned listless as she stated her response would possible be “spinning”.
“You ask me about issues that somebody would possibly say are below my management,” she stated, “however I do not consider it.” “I do not know what you need me to reply. If it is a provocative query, then you’ll be able to write the story nevertheless you want.”
She stated the off-field scandal had nothing to do with the gamers on the event.
“No matter reply I’ll now provide you with,” she stated, “it will likely be was no matter manner you need it to be turned.” “So does that hassle me? What bothers me is that there are actual issues occurring on the earth.”