Former world number one Victoria Azarenka snapped back at questions over her health after she suffered breathing difficulties in a shock straight-sets first round exit at the Australian Open. A distressed 12th seed needed two medical timeouts in the second set before losing 7-5, 6-4, but said players should not have to speak about health issues. 

Azarenka, who endured a hard hotel quarantine on arrival in Melbourne, used an inhaler but gamely fought on before succumbing 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 39 minutes. "I don`t really know why we`re getting asked about medical conditions," said the Belarusian, who won the title at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013. "It shouldn`t be a mandatory requirement for people to talk about their health issues.