Victoria Azarenka Withdraws From Rogers Cup; Hopes To Be Ready For U.S. Open
MONTREAL (CBSNewYork/AP) — Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka withdrew from the Rogers Cup on Friday because of a knee injury, but she hopes to be ready for the U.S. Open.
Azarenka was tied 3-3 in her second-round match against Tamira Paszek when it was suspended by rain on Thursday night. The 23-year-old Belarusian won two Olympic medals in London, taking gold in mixed doubles and bronze in singles.
"I hope it is a short-term thing, but I don't know," Azarenka said. "I have to kind of stop and just take a little bit of time off because I absolutely had no rest for a long period of time."
Azarenka said she'll skip the Western and Southern Open next week in Cincinnati. Getting ready for the final major of the year is her top priority, she said.
"The first is to get healthy, to make sure that I'm a hundred percent ready to play at the (U.S.) Open," Azarenka said.
Meanwhile, Lucie Safarova upset Samantha Stosur 7-6 (9), 7-6 (5) to reach the quarterfinals. Caroline Wozniacki, the 2010 champion, defeated qualifier Kiki Bertens 7-5, 6-1.
Petra Kvitova dispatched Marion Bartoli 6-1, 6-1.
Azarenka said the knee did not bother her during the Olympic tournament, which was held on the grass courts of Wimbledon.
"It actually just happened when I came here," Azarenka said about practicing on the Montreal hardcourts. "When I started to train, the first time I hit it was a little bit of a compensation from the other court, and it just happened."
Also sidelined is second-ranked Maria Sharapova, who withdrew Wednesday because of a virus.
Hopefully Vika is ready to go in Flushing! Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...
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