Tennis sensation Victoria Azarenka is revered as a stalwart in the world of sports, having reigned as the top tennis player in recent years.
However, her custody dispute with Billy McKeague has been a distressing and career-altering ordeal for the tennis player.
In August 2017, Victoria Azarenka and Billy McKeague became embroiled in a grueling and demanding custody struggle for their then 8-month-old son, Leo.
Regrettably for the Belarusian athlete, she had to forgo participation in that year’s US Open championship to vie for primary custody of her infant son.
The former world number one separated from McKeague after Wimbledon 2017, and Azarenka had to relinquish her opportunities for other titles, along with her ranking, to contend with McKeague in court.
Biography and Wealth of Billy McKeague
McKeague was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to the chairman and marketing executive of Chase and Company.
Initially aspiring to become a future hockey star, he enrolled at the University of Missouri but swiftly discovered his passion for golf.
Shifting his focus to golf, McKeague pursued a career as a golf professional at the North Shores Resorts in Hawaii.
He has an estimated net worth of approximately $400,000, amassed from his hockey days and his current occupation as a golf instructor.
It was during his time at the resort that he fortuitously crossed paths with the tennis star, who had successfully defended her Australian Open title in 2013.
While Azarenka was visiting the resort with a friend, she serendipitously encountered McKeague.
Azarenka, who was in a relationship at the time, opted to maintain a distance from McKeague, intending to remain amicable.
However, their undeniable attraction led to the inception of their relationship in 2015-16, and Azarenka announced the birth of their child on December 20, 2016.
McKeague and Azarenka parted ways in August 2017, when their son was just eight months old.
Commencement of the Custody Battle Between Billy McKeague and Victoria Azarenka?
After enduring a series of injuries and taking time off due to her pregnancy, Azarenka was primed to return to the court in the 2017 tennis season.
Unfortunately, her relationship with McKeague was gradually deteriorating, and following their separation, McKeague initiated a pursuit for sole custody of their son.
In an extensive Tweet, Azarenka issued a statement elucidating her absence from the tournament, candidly acknowledging her legal predicaments.
Commencing her statement by expressing gratitude for parents who balance parenting and a demanding career, the tennis star revealed her plans to participate in the Mallorca Open by mid-June, with aspirations to pursue her first Wimbledon title.
Azarenka delineated how her split from McKeague hindered her quest for the US Open title, disclosing to her followers that:
“Shortly after Wimbledon, Leo’s father and I separated, and as we work to resolve some of the legal processes, the only way I can play in the US Open this year is if I leave Leo behind in California, which I’m not willing to do.”
After expressing appreciation for the support of fellow parents on social media, Azarenka conveyed her hope for herself and McKeague to “set aside any differences and take steps in the right direction to more effectively work as a team and agree on an arrangement for all three of [them] to travel and for [Azarenka] to compete.”
She adamantly asserted that regardless of the circumstances, “Leo has a consistent presence from both of his parents.”
In August 2017, the New York Post reported that McKeague had filed custody documents in Los Angeles, where he and Azarenka had been raising their son.
The article alleged that a judge instructed the athlete that she would be unable to depart the state with her son to compete while the dispute was ongoing.
At that time, the custody case was slated to conclude in October, and Azarenka opted to withdraw from the tournament rather than leave Leo with his father.
Azarenka’s attorney, Laura Wasser, informed the judge that Azarenka had offered to purchase a plane ticket and hotel accommodation for McKeague, which he declined.
The Post also stated that the Los Angeles judge refused to transfer the case to Belarus, where the athlete had already secured a valid custody arrangement.
A Victory for Victoria Azarenka
In January 2018, circumstances appeared to be turning against McKeague.
The judge deemed McKeague’s initial custody filing as not falling under the jurisdiction of California – or the United States – thereby relegating the dispute to Azarenka’s homeland, Belarus.
The legal team of the tennis luminary was sanguine that the tide was turning in her favor, citing the judge’s 65-page verdict as a hopeful indicator.
According to the Los Angeles judge, McKeague had three weeks to file an appeal against the dismissal of the case in California.
Meanwhile, Azarenka aspired to take Leo to Belarus and articulated her desire to continue co-parenting with McKeague.
Reflecting on her return to grand slams in 2018, Azarenka expressed:
“I wouldn’t wish that on anybody to go through what I’ve been going through, but it’s part of life and there are blessings in this situation as well for me.”
It was reported that Azarenka emerged triumphant in her custody battle against McKeague, and during the 2020 lockdown, she and Leo were quarantined together.
Her Perspectives on the Custody Battle
In a discussion with Chris Evert, Azarenka shared how the custody battle with McKeague affected her physical and mental well-being.
“There are times where I knew two days before the tournament that I can actually go and play the tournament. So organizing that you know and trying to regroup yourself was just the best you can do,” she remarked.
Owing to her sporadic appearances for most of 2017 and 2018, her ranking plummeted significantly. Azarenka perceived this as an opportunity to evolve, telling Evert,
“The uncertainty in that way was something that I’m just not used to having somebody else control my life where I’m the one who always have done it, have my own schedule and stuff so for me, that was really difficult like not knowing what I’m gonna do.”
Presently, she is striving to reclaim her standing at the top, aspiring to attain several more grand slam victories to demonstrate her ability to rebound.
Regarding her relationship with Billy McKeague, the tennis player has refrained from making disparaging remarks about her son’s father.
