PICTURE: Victoria Azarenka shares last selfie with son Leo as a 7-year-old as pair kick off pre-birthday festivities
Victoria Azarenka shared an adorable selfie with her son Leo as they celebrated his upcoming eighth birthday. The mother-son duo kicked off the pre-birthday festivities, cherishing Leo’s "last night" as a seven-year-old.
Azarenka took to Instagram and shared an image with her son. Both were smiling warmly, showcasing a happy moment. Leo seemed to be holding a small ice cream cone or a snack, and they appeared to be celebrating in a cozy indoor setting. She captioned the image:
"Last night as a 7-year-old @leomac7"
Azarenka welcomed her son, Leo, on December 19, 2016, with her then-partner Billy McKeague, a former hockey player turned golf instructor. The couple split in 2017, leading to a challenging custody battle that affected the Belarusian's tennis career.
Azarenka ultimately gained custody of her son and Leo has since become a central part of her life, often accompanying her on the tour and featuring in her social media posts.
Currently, Leo, who turned eight on December 19, plays for the Florida Kings ice hockey team. He signed a contract with them in May this year.
Victoria Azarenka shared a heartwarming post for son Leo on his 6th birthday in 2022
In 2022, Victoria Azarenka shared a heartfelt Instagram post to celebrate her son Leo's sixth birthday. The post featured a carousel of photos capturing Leo's joyful moments. Azarenka accompanied the images with a touching caption:
"Happy 6th birthday Leo! I love you more than you can ever imagine! You grow so fast, keep shining kid! Keep learning and creating and I will be by your side always cheering you on as obsessively as I am at your [football] games. We love you"
A few weeks after Leo's sixth birthday, the Belarusian participated in the Australian Open in 2023. At the Melbourne Slam, she hilariously revealed that Leo is not interested in her tennis.
"Um well, Leo doesn’t really care so much that I’m playing here. He worries more about his football…" Azarenka said after her quarterfinal win over Jessica Pegula. "And when we gonna go play again out there. But obviously, he is watching some matches. He definitely wants his mom to be home so a few more days here and I’ll be back."
In 2024, 35-year-old Azarenka finished her season with a 30-15 record in singles, ranked World No. 20. The two-time Australian Open champion will open her 2025 season at the Brisbane International.