Azarenka Could Miss U.S. Open Because Of Custody Issues

marc45

G.O.A.T.
Daniela Dolce Retweeted
Foam A. Lime TNNS‏ @FoamALime 2h2 hours ago
Here's the source article on Vika #Azarenka's custody battle over Leo translated from the Israeli news site... #teamVika #teamLeo

DG4sNOQW0AE0jqK.jpg
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
Report: Azarenka Could Miss US Open Due to Custody Battle Over Son

Yesh Ginsburg
-
August 10, 2017

According to the Israeli newspaper Yediot Acharonot(translated as YNET News in English), Victoria Azarenka has enlisted the services of an Israeli family court lawyer in the custody battle over her seven-month-old son, Leo.

According to the report, Azarenka and boyfriend Billy McKeague, Leo’s father, split in July but have kept their separation quiet from the media so far. The report claims that Azarenka currently is not allowed to sleep with her son and that he is being kept in Los Angeles while the custody issue is resolved.

Azarenka missed over a year of play due to her pregnancy and recovery, as her last match played was at the French Open. She was originally slated to return at Stanford this year, but she pushed up her return a bit in order to be ready and try to play at Wimbledon.

The former World #1 and two-time Australian Open champion returned to play at Mallorca this year, where she won one match before being defeated by Ana Konjuh. She then competed at Wimbledon, where she struggled in some matches and showed clear rust, but eventually reached the fourth round before being defeated by World #2 Simona Halep.

Azarenka’s fans were confused when she declined to participate in this week’s Rogers Cup, either by use of a protected ranking or via a Wild Card. She has received a Wild Card for next week’s Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, and has not officially withdrawn from the tournament yet (that I can find, at least), though the Israeli report indicates that she has.

Lastly, the report claims that a Belorussian court will be hearing the case in September, and that Azarenka could miss the US Open due to the case. If she does, the report claims that Azarenka will sue for damages upwards of $10 Million due to the loss of ability to compete in tournaments and win prize money and prestige.

There has been no real coverage or corroboration of this report from the English-speaking press yet, so we will have to see if or where it can be confirmed. With the US Open only a short three weeks away, though, and with the report’s claims that the custody fight will be heard in court in September, we should know the truth for sure soon enough.
 

kabob

Hall of Fame
I guess, but the kid was born in the United States (though I understand he has dual citizenship) so I would have figured they'd have to fight it out in American court.
 

kabob

Hall of Fame
Of course father wants custody, got to keep that WTA child-support dough rolling in. They were not together long enough for him to file for alimony

They weren't married so he doesn't qualify for alimony. Palimony, perhaps, especially since he gave up a lucrative career as a golf pro to support Azarenka.
 

funkystar

New User
Custody battle looks to be true and its reported that Azarenka had her child temporarily taken away from her because she's not an American citizen.

......
Victoria Azarenka living a nightmare as custody battle looms

By Stephanie Myles August 10, 2017

The pure joy exhibited by Victoria Azarenka in her first few months of motherhood has turned into a nightmare.

Until now, the news has only appeared in one media outlet, the Israel newspaper Yediot Acharonot.

But Tennis.Life has learned, from a reliable source, that the 28-year-old from Belarus has been through a horrifying ordeal since returning home from Wimbledon.

Instead of focusing on her return to the court after giving birth to son Leo last December and enjoying that irreplaceable first year of motherhood, she has been fighting for the right to see her son.


"BREAKUP, AND CUSTODY BATTLE LOOMING?

Azarenka pulled out of a planned participation in the Stanford event last week, citing a viral illness. In fact, her ex-boyfriend Billy McKeague, the father of son Leo, filed papers to gain temporary custody of the seven-month old just before she was to leave.

Azarenka is not an American citizen, which appears to have played in her ex’s favour. And so, her son was – temporarily – taken from her to be with his father.

What a terrifying, devastating thing for a new mother to go through.

We’re told that since then, the former couple has negotiated a more equitable 50/50 arrangement. But the custody process has barely begun.

The Israeli report stated there is to be a hearing in Belarus in mid-September. Tennis.life is told the location of that hearing is inaccurate.

US OPEN NOT RULED OUT

Azarenka is still entered in the US Open. But given the circumstances, her leaving the state and bringing baby Leo with her to New York City could be problematic.

And imagine trying to focus on trying to win tennis matches when you’re dealing with something like this.

As anyone who has gone through a custody case knows, these matters can take an eternity to resolve.

Azarenka looked positively luminous at Wimbledon, her first Grand Slam since becoming a mother. The new chapter appeared to be the most joyful time of her life, with so much to look forward to.

Instead, she’s going to have to muster all of her renowned toughness to ensure the best outcome for both herself, and her son.

There has been no official comment so far from Azarenka, or her representatives. You’d have to think something will be forthcoming, as the news spreads."

..........
http://tennis.life/2017/08/10/report-azarenka-custody-battle/
 

tennisaddict

Bionic Poster
Azarenka's shrieks must have pushed Billy McGee beyond the fence. Hope the mess is sorted out soon for the well being of the child.
 
C

Chadillac

Guest
She must of done something really bad for the father to get custody
 

kabob

Hall of Fame
You guys hate relationships so much, next you'll be saying that Azarenka's boyfriend got advice from Jelena Djokovic on how to ruin his spouse's career. :rolleyes:
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
There is only one child so if you want to see it again it is helpful that it stays in your native country.
 

tennis_pro

Bionic Poster
Wait, so they broke up when Azarenka was still pregnant or right after she gave birth? What kind of a man does that? If I was Azarenka's brother that guys life would be a living hell.
 

kabob

Hall of Fame
Wait, so they broke up when Azarenka was still pregnant or right after she gave birth? What kind of a man does that? If I was Azarenka's brother that guys life would be a living hell.

Huh? Wtf are you talking about. They broke up a few weeks ago and the kid was born last December. Besides, they're fighting over sharing custody and the lede of the story is he'd gotten an injunction to keep Azarenka from taking the baby out of the country until things are settled. Allegedly, anyway.
 

tennis_pro

Bionic Poster
Huh? Wtf are you talking about. They broke up a few weeks ago and the kid was born last December. Besides, they're fighting over sharing custody and the lede of the story is he'd gotten an injunction to keep Azarenka from taking the baby out of the country until things are settled. Allegedly, anyway.

Oh, that makes it totally acceptable, then.
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
I can't really see anything too unusual happening here as yet although given he is having the issue decided in America this is more favourable to him.

Having it decided overseas would be overwhelmingly to her favour, of course,
 

boredone3456

G.O.A.T.
This is just sad for both of them and mostly for the kid. He was just born and those initial months are times when she should be bonding with both parents, not being wrenched from one to the other and put in the middle of some legal battle. Sadly, cases like this end up coming off as being about the ego of the parents and "winning" and "punishing" the other. I hope they both come to a quick agreement based on what is best for the child, who is still very young and deserves the chance to bond with both of his parents if possible unless someone one is deemed to be unfit.

As for whats happened so far it makes sense, of course dad doesn't want her taking the kid out of the country, if she does there is a chance he won't see the kid again. He wants things settled. And of course Azarenka now needs to be near her child to deal with the custody battle, so of course she going to prepare to sue for damages to her career that she will argue are being caused by the injunction.

However I'm not sure what happens with custody in the case of an international issue like this, Azarenka is not a US Citizen. Maybe thats why she hired this Israeli lawyer? to try and Bridge the gap? I'm not sure how a US Court can rule in a case of custody between a citizen and a non citizen and a child with dual citizenship...I'm sure Belarus will have something to say about this as well.

This is probably going to get very ugly before it gets better, and in the end...the kid is going to suffer when he really doesn't have anything to do with it except for the fact that he is just a baby stuck in the middle.
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
You can hardly be sued for damages for asserting your legal right to have a legal decision regarding issues pertaining to your child, at least in a rational legal jurisdiction.

The child has an American father, may even have been born in America and was probably domiciled in America.

But it probably comes within the jurisdiction of the American courts simply because the child is physically there.

I don't think foreign courts will be having any say in the matter.

The Israeli lawyer is probably from a Russian emigre family with both English and East European linguistic abilities and legal expertise.

Azarenka probably has to miss tennis for the simple reason that it would demonstrate that she can provide a stable environment to raise the child.

If she has custody in a city where both have access to the child then things are more likely to go her way, but I doubt travelling outside America with the child is something the father wants.

That places a wandering tennis player in a disadvantageous situation.

PS

She apparently now has physical custody of the child within California, but if she leaves she has to leave the child with the father.

He has apperently refused to go with her to the US Open so that the child can remain in her custody. So she remains stuck.
 
Last edited:

kabob

Hall of Fame
FYI, their son was born in the US and is an American citizen by birthright, though from a social media posting by Azarenka, he also carries a Belarussian passport.
 

every7

Hall of Fame
Very sad situations. My thoughts are with Leo and also Vika.

@Bartelby - will Vika be able to potentially argue in any way that she made plans to travel as a mother and could anything to this effect ever be agreed upon in a pre-nuptial agreement to be referred back to during a custody dispute?
 

Harry_Wild

G.O.A.T.
I think the ex-boyfriend is using the kid as a bargain chip for some $$$$$$$$$$! That the way it goes when the ex-boyfriend is not as rich as his ex and needs some dough! He is/was a golf instructor in Hawaii resort where they met! Now he does not have a place to stay I guess since they were staying in Manhatten. L.A. and Belarus all owned by Vika and no job!
 
Last edited:
Top