Azarenka’s tale is different. Since stepping away to have her son Leo in 2016, she’s been fighting a heated custody battle with her ex-boyfriend Billy McKeague. After some stops and starts (she played just two events in 2017), and raising her ranking up to just No. 53, Azarenka was looking to get off to a good start in what should be her first full season back.
Instead, she lost in the first round of Auckland to Venus Williams and couldn't find her way to the finish line in Melbourne Arena. In press, a question near the end of her 10-minute interview about where she finds her strength sent her over the edge.
"I’ve been through a lot of things in my life—sometimes I wonder why I go through them," the 29-year-old said. "But I think they’re going to make me stronger. I want to believe that. And I’m going to work hard for it. So sometimes I just need a little time and patience, and a little support."
The good news for Azarenka is that there's a long year ahead to try again.
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