By Chris Oddo | Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Victoria Azarenka pulled out of the Western and Southern Open due to the knee injury she suffered in Montreal.
Photo Source: Christopher Levy
Defending Western and Southern Open champion Victoria Azarenka had to pull out of this year’s event due to a right knee injury that she suffered in Montreal.
Azarenka was replaced in the main draw by Mona Barthel of Germany.
“Well after my last match in Montreal, which was definitely a very hard fought game to play, I tried to recover as much as possible,” Azarenka said. “I started to feel a little bit better and did everything I could, but it’s just not enough time for me to feel good to play a full match. I tried to practice, give it a rest and work with my team. It’s just not enough time.”
Ranked No. 10 in the world currently due to a rash of injuries that have allowed her to play only 16 matches this season, Azarenka was No. 2 in the world at this time last year.
She is confident that she’ll play the U.S. Open. which begins Aug. 25.
“I’m going to get more treatment and get more work done and should be good for the US Open,” she said. “But I had to make this decision. I feel strongly that it’s the best for me at this moment.”