Why killjoy officials told Victoria Azarenka to REMOVE Paris Saint-Germain shirt

Former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka may have been denied a chance at a third title at Melbourne Park, but it is unlikely that would make a difference to her biggest fan – her son.

The Belarusian two-time Aussie Open champion was beaten by Elena Rybakina in last night’s semi-final.

And keen observers may have noticed she was not wearing her Paris Saint-Germain jersey in the lead up to the match.

Azarenka had been breaking Australian Open rules by wearing the PSG shirt in honour of her seven-year-old son Leo who is a mad fan of the champion Ligue 1 football side. 

 ‘He wants to play at Paris Saint-Germain. That’s his dream,’ Azarenka said.

‘I’m a soccer mum now and I love that.

‘I love supporting. I’m obnoxious, like absolutely the most obnoxious.’

While Azarenka got away with wearing the shirt at Melbourne Park throughout the tournament, killjoy officials finally put a stop to it last night.

They ordered her to remove the shirt because it violated Open rules surrounding displaying sponsor logos. 

‘They told me to take it off twice because I had a different shirt,’ Azarenka said.

‘I think it’s the issue with the sponsorships. I guess the logos are too big. I mean, it’s not something they’ve done that is out of the ordinary. I know that I’m not allowed to play in that. I knew those type of things.

‘But I can still step on the court in what I want to step on the court.

‘I do it for my own reasons. My son wore the white jersey today to his practice, and I tried to wear a white jersey to my match, but couldn’t. So that’s OK.’

Azarenka was disappointed with the loss, but said she would return stronger in 2024 in a bid to claim her third Australian Open titile.

‘Time always is a good medicine I feel like,’ she said.

‘I don’t really dwell too long on things. I feel like I’m in the state of mind where I can be a little bit more objective.

‘I think what helps me now is not to take it, I did something bad or I’m this or that. I don’t take it (personally). It’s just a day that my game didn’t win. I think that helps my mindset to not dwell on things like that too much.

‘On the other hand, it also motivates you. Okay, I want to go a step further and do better. Then take the lens, zoom out and see what I can do maybe better next time.

‘I think it’s a combination of kind of a few things.’