Tennis Canada – Montreal, June 26, 2018 — Tennis Canada announced on Tuesday that Victoria Azarenka of Belarus is the recipient of a wild card for the 2018 Rogers Cup presented by National. This will be her first time playing in Montreal since 2014, she was expecting her first child during the 2016 tournament.

“I am very much looking forward to returning to Montreal this summer. It has been a few years since I was in this beautiful city, and I can’t wait to be back and see the amazing fans in Quebec. I have some fond memories of playing in Montreal in the past so I hope to add to that this summer!”

Azarenka, who has been ranked World No. 1 and has won two Grand Slam titles, is currently ranking no. 87 and will be looking to regain her place at the top of the rankings after her absence from the tour. The 28-year-old athlete gave birth to her first child in December of 2016. After attempting a comeback in 2017, it was actually in March of 2018 that she was able to make a full return to competition. Her best result came when she reached the semi-finals at the tournament in Miami.

“We are very pleased to be able to announce the participation of Victoria Azarenka in our tournament by awarding her a wild card,” stated Eugène Lapierre, Tournament Director of Rogers Cup presented by National Ban. “She has been a major figure on the WTA tour in the last ten years and tennis fans are very happy to see her back in action playing in various tournaments after her absence. Victoria is showing us that it is possible to be a mother and a professional tennis player at the same time, which is already quite an accomplishment. I am certain that the Montreal fans are looking forward to seeing her back on court.”

Azarenka will be looking for her first Rogers Cup title after reaching the semi-finals on three occasions, including twice in Montreal in 2008 and 2010. The WTA wild card that she has received is reserved for players who have previously been ranked No. 1 in the world, who were ranked in the Top 20 in 2017 or who have won a Grand Slam title, a WTA Finals title or a Premier Mandatory tournament during their career.  The complete list of players entered in the 2018 Rogers Cup presented by National Bank will be unveiled on Thursday, June 28.

Owned and operated by Tennis Canada, the prestigious Rogers Cup presented by National Bank attracts the biggest stars in tennis year after year. In 2018, the men’s event will take place at the Aviva Centre in Toronto from August 4 to 12, while the women’s event will take place at IGA Stadium in Montreal from August 3 to 12. For tickets and additional information, please visit rogerscup.com or couperogers.com.  Sportsnet is the official English broadcaster and TVA Sports is the official French broadcaster of the 2018 Rogers Cup.
 
About Rogers Cup presented by National Bank
Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is a Tennis Canada owned and operated world-class tournament celebrating its 126th anniversary of the women’s event from August 3-12, 2018 at IGA Stadium in Montreal and its 138th anniversary of the men’s event from August 4-12, 2018 at Aviva Centre in Toronto. As a WTA Premier 5 tournament, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, and US Open Series event, Rogers Cup presented by National Bank will showcase the world’s best players. Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is the third-oldest title in tennis, behind only Wimbledon and the US Open. For more information and tickets visit www.rogerscup.com.

About Tennis Canada
Founded in 1890, Tennis Canada is a non-profit, national sport association with a mission to lead the growth of tennis in Canada and a vision to become a world-leading tennis nation. We value teamwork, passion, integrity, innovation and excellence. Tennis Canada owns and operates the premier Rogers Cup presented by National Bank WTA and ATP World Tour events, 9 professional ITF sanctioned events and financially supports 13 other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates junior national training centres/programs in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. Tennis Canada is a proud member of the International Tennis Federation, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the International Wheelchair Tennis Association, and serves to administer, sponsor and select the teams for Davis Cup, Fed Cup, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and all wheelchair, junior and senior national teams. Tennis Canada invests its surplus into tennis development. For more information on Tennis Canada please visit our Web site at: www.tenniscanada.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
 

           
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Valerie Tetreault, Manager, Communications
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Victoria Jaklin, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations
vjaklin@tenniscanada.com or 514-273-1515 ext. 6291