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'Very strange': Devastating fallout to tennis star's breakdown

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Belarus tennis player Victoria Azarenka (pictured) broke down in tears during her Indian Wells loss.
Victoria Azarenka (pictured) broke down in tears during her Indian Wells tennis match, before appearing to delete a number of social media accounts. (Images: Tennis Plus/@WeAreTennisFr)

Belarusian tennis star Victoria Azarenka has appeared to delete a number of social media accounts after breaking down in tears during her match at Indian Wells.

Azarenka, playing under a neutral flag due to a sanctions against Russia and Belerus, was eliminated from Indian Wells in heartbreaking scenes after breaking down in tears in the second set.

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The Belarusian was serving at 2-2 and deuce in the second set against Elena Rybakina when she dropped the ball and kneeled over.

Azarenka then retreated to the back of the court as she fought back tears.

Rybakina walked to the net to check on her opponent at the same point as the chair umpire approached Azarenka to see if she was ok.

Azarenka recovered before holding her serve to win 3-2, but was eventually defeated 6-3, 6-4.

However the tennis world pondered why the Belarusian broke down in tears.

Some questioned whether she was in pain due to an injury, but she didn't call for a physio after the game.

In a bigger twist, Azarenka then appeared to delete her Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Fans were quick to wish Azarenka well considering she is playing under a neutral flag due to Belarus' involvement with Russia during the invasion of Ukraine.

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Only days earlier, Azarenka called for peace in a message after her Indian Wells First Round win.

"One thing that's missing in the world is compassion toward each other, empathy," she said.

"It's something I feel I can offer. I hope that others start to implement that because we're all humans. It's the most important, is to take care of each. That's what life is about.

"I know it's a wishful thinking sometimes."

Azarenka's breakdown comes as Naomi Osaka was brought to tears when a member of the crowd repeatedly yelled "Naomi, you suck", at the Japanese star.

Naomi Osaka (pictured) speaks with WTA supervisor Clare Wood at Indian Wells.
Naomi Osaka (pictured) broke down during her Indian Wells match after a member of the crowds persistent heckling. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (Clive Brunskill via Getty Images)

After falling 0-3 down her emotions spilled over and Osaka was reduced to tears as she sat court side.

Osaka then approached the chair umpire and asked if she could address the fan over the microphone, but her request was denied.

The 24-year-old quickly pulled herself together and resumed the match, and even though she raised her game in the second set she could find no answer for Veronika Kudermetova and bowed out 6-0, 6-4.

Following the match, Osaka explained that she hasn't been bothered by hecklers in the past, but this time it was different.

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