Cape Town - Former world number one tennis player Victoria Azarenka has confirmed via social media that she has given birth to her first child, a boy, with partner Billy McKeague.

The 26-year-old confirmed the news on Twitter and Instagram, by posting: "Today I had my hardest fight and my very best victory! Our son was born healthy and happy! So thankful and blessed! Thank you"

The two-time Australian Open champion confirmed her pregnancy earlier in the year revealing she would be on hiatus until sometime after the birth.

Earlier this week, the Belarusian confirmed that she would be returning to playing but would not put a time frame on when.

"I don't put any time frame on myself," Azarenka said in an interview with Tennis Channel.

"I would love to make it as soon as possible, but give myself a reasonable time to fully recover and be ready. I'm not going to rush anything, and it's hard to tell before the birth actually happens.

"So, we'll see, but I'm confident that I'll be able to play tennis again pretty soon."