Victoria Azarenka says exploitation of female players happens ‘right and left’

Victoria Azarenka has said that exploitation of female players happens “right and left” in professional tennis and that the sport should ensure that safeguarding issues are at the forefront of its concerns.

“It’s a very sensitive subject, because you won’t hear those stories unless players come out and tell those stories. It happens right and left on the tour, which is unfortunate,” said Azarenka in her post-match press conference after reaching the US Open fourth round on Sunday. “Our job is to be better at safeguarding. As player council, it’s almost like No 1 subject, to us. Because we see those vulnerable young ladies that getting taken advantage of in different situation.”

Azarenka, a two-time grand slam champion and former No 1, is the highest-profile member of the WTA player council. She described how she has seen coaches who manipulate female players into dependence.

“In the women’s game, particularly, I see so many coaches that make their players dependent on them, and I think that’s very dangerous. It’s very manipulative too. I wish that kind of subject was talked about a little bit more,” said Azarenka.

Azarenka’s comments come in light of the news earlier this week that Fiona Ferro, the French former No 39, has filed charges against her former coach, Pierre Bouteyre, for rape and sexual assault between 2012 and 2015, when she was aged between 15 and 18. Bouteyre has admitted the relationship but claims that their relationship was consensual. On Friday, Ferro released a statement on social media: “I confirm that I was not consenting,” she wrote.

As she spoke about safeguarding issues in general, Azarenka directly addressed Ferro’s case: “[The] recent story with Fiona Ferro that came out. I don’t know how to