Tennis Canada – The Belarusian is expecting her first child at the end of the year

Montreal, July 15, 2016 – Victoria Azarenka of Belarus announced Friday, via her Twitter account, that she is expecting her first child at the end of the year. As a result, she will not play anymore tournaments in 2016, including the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank.
 
“While recovering from my knee injury that I sustained at Roland-Garros, I received news from my doctor that my boyfriend and I are going to become parents at the end of this year,” said Azarenka. “While I will miss competing in the sport that I love this season, I am excited for all that’s ahead. I have been truly inspired by so many strong female athletes who return to the very top of their sport after having children, and I plan to do exactly that.”
 
“While we are sad about Victoria’s absence, we are obviously thrilled for her,” said Eugène Lapierre, Tournament Director of the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank. “It’s a very important moment in her life and we wish her lots of happiness in her future role as a mother. We were happy to read that she plans to come back because she has always been a fan favourite in Montreal.”  
 
“I am unfortunately not going to be playing in Montreal this year. I will be following the tournament from a distance, and already looking forward to coming back to play the Rogers Cup,” Azarenka added.
 
Azarenka has not played since Roland-Garros. The world no. 6 won three titles this season in Brisbane, Indian Wells, and Miami.
 
Jelena Jankovic of Serbia will also not play the Rogers Cup.
 
Misaki Doi of Japan and Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer have moved into the main draw.

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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 136th anniversary of the men’s event from July 23-31 at Aviva Centre in Toronto and its 124th anniversary of the women’s event from July 22-31 at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal. As an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, Premier 5 WTA tournament and Emirates Airline U.S. 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 U.S. 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, 10 professional ITF-sanctioned events and financially supports 12 other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates national junior training centres/programs in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. 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 website at www.tenniscanada.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contacts (Montréal)
Valérie Tétreault, Regional Manager, Communications and Media Relations
      514 273-1515, ext. 6259, vtetreault@tenniscanada.com
Justine Poirier, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations
      514-273-1515, ext. 6291, jpoirier@tenniscanada.com
 
Media Contacts (Toronto) 
Sarah Grossman, National Manager, Communications and Media Relations, Professional Tennis
       416 650-7922, sgrossman@tenniscanada.com
Nicole Watts, Manager, Communications
       416 665-9777, ext. 4092, nwatts@tenniscanada.com