NEW YORK: Sexual abuse of young female players by older male coaches happens “right and left” on the WTA Tour and protecting against it must be a priority, Victoria Azarenka said at the US Open on Saturday.
Azarenka’s remarks to reporters came after Pierre Bouteyre, the former coach of French player Fiona Ferro, was charged in France on Thursday with raping and sexually assaulting her as a teenager between 2012 and 2015, according to the AFP.
Bouteyre’s lawyer told AFP that a relationship had taken place but denied any coercion. The lawyer said Bouteyre, 50, described the relationship as “a true love story”.
Azarenka, who sits on the eight-person players’ council, said tackling abuse is the group’s top priority.
“We see these vulnerable young women being exploited in different situations,” she said.
“It’s really sad and it makes me really emotional… and if I had a daughter, I would have a question if she wanted to play tennis, that would be a very big concern for me,” she said. declared.
Former number one Azarenka, who reached the fourth round of the tournament on Saturday, applauded Ferro for his courage to speak out.
Ferro, 25, has won two WTA titles and reached No. 39 in the world last year, but is currently ranked No. 259 and lost in tournament qualifying last week.
“I hope she comes out of this stronger and tennis is not ruined for her because of it,” she said.
Azarenka implored reporters at the press conference to do their part to expose the abuses.
“Do research, help people open up more,” she said.
“Hopefully one by one try to eliminate these types of situations.”