Azarenka wildcard for Open in balance

FORMER world No.1 Victoria Azarenka’s hopes of contesting next month’s Australian Open continue to hang in the balance.

The dual Melbourne Park champion has been granted a wildcard by organisers but the Belarusian might not be able to use it.

A continuing legal battle between Azarenka and her former partner over the custody of their infant son, Leo, has effectively stalled Azarenka’s career.

Ominously, the righthander has already scuttled plans to resume at the ASB Classic in Auckland next week.

Her decision to abandon the New Zealand pipe-opener does not bode well for the January 15-28 Australian Open.

The baseliner told organisers she would be unable to play in Auckland for “personal reasons”.

Azarenka has not played since Wimbledon in July because she cannot leave California with her son until a dispute with her former partner ends. Sympathetic to Azarenka’s cause, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley allocated a wildcard to the right-hander.

Currently ranked outside the top 200 — and otherwise condemned to qualifying — she had hoped to join fellow mother Serena Williams at Melbourne Park.

If Azarenka is unable to resolve the situation quickly, it is increasingly likely she will surrender the wildcard.

If so, TA would probably consider the claims of a young Australian player.