Australian Official Defends Azarenka’s Timeout

Written by: Staff on 25th January 2013

Australian Official Defends Azarenka’s Timeout |

‘Worldwide condemnation of Australian Open defending champion Victoria Azarenka’s ill-timed nine-minute medical timeout caused her to trend globally on Twitter with countless accusations of gamesmanship. But tournament director Craig Tiley jumped to the defense of his top seed who faces Li Na in tomorrow’s final.

Azarenka won the match against American Sloane Stephens after leaving the court for what she initially admitted was ‘severe nervousness’. In an on-court television interview, immediately after beating American teenager Sloane Stephens in the semi-final, the world no.1 from Belarus revealed: “Nerves got to me, for sure”.

However tournament director Craig Tiley was categorical that Azarenka had received treatment for both a rib injury and then a knee, “which she had tweaked a little bit in the second set.”

Tiley consulted tournament physician Dr. Tim Wood and reported: “In this instance, the doctor confirmed that he did treat the rib, he did treat the knee, and once he made that assessment, she was able and ready to continue to play. On our initial assessment on this, and also on advice from the doctor, it’s correct.”

Mindful of the widespread focus on the matter of medical timeouts being abused, Tiley was insistent that given current rules in place, Australian Open staff had handled the situation appropriately.

Tiley said: “Certainly we have a grand slam supervisor on every court and it’s their job to ensure that the rules are upheld and the spirit of the game is adhered to, and in this case our supervisor assessed that, and together with the trainer and the medical practitioner, they were satisfied that it was.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Australian Open, Sloane Stephens, Sports, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka