Victoria Azarenka Explains Her Rome Actions

Written by: Staff on 21st May 2012

Victoria Azarenka Explains Her Rome Actions

epa03221894 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus returns to Shahar Peer of Israel during their second round match at the Italian Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 16 May 2012. EPA/ETTORE FERRARI |

Pressure from what she considers inflexible WTA rules required injured Victoria Azarenka to make a start this week at the Rome Masters, with the No.1 then withdrawing after winning her opening match.

The player blasted the rule which requires all elite players to compete in a handful of required events or take an obligatory zero points which could severely affect their rankings.

“I was conflicted and disappointed to withdraw from Rome,” Azarenka, who quit Rome with a right shoulder injury, tweeted. “I tried my hardest but I wasn’t healthy going into the tournament.

“If WTA rules were different then I could have focused on getting healthy but I could not afford another zero pointer on my ranking. Hopefully in the future there will be more protection for players rights.”

Azarenka is bidding for a second straight major title when she plays the French Open which begins May 27 after beating Maria Sharapova to take the crown in January at the Australian Open.

Topics: 10sballs.com, French Open 2012, Maria Sharapova, Rome Tennis news, Vkictoria Azarenka, world number one, Wta