WTA Launches Investigation into Tennis Coach Over Alleged Inappropriate Conduct with Teenage Player
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has initiated a formal investigation into complaints made against a Spanish tennis coach for alleged inappropriate behavior involving a young female player and reports of bullying conduct. This inquiry focuses on Rafael Font de Mora, whose professional history is now under scrutiny following serious allegations from former players.
Complaints Filed by Former Players Including Grand Slam Champion
According to reports, two former players have submitted formal complaints to the WTA's safeguarding team regarding Font de Mora's conduct. One of these complainants is Pam Shriver, a 22-time Grand Slam doubles champion, while the other individual has chosen to remain anonymous. The complaints highlight concerns over the coach's past actions and their potential impact on player welfare.
Shriver's complaint specifically centers on Font de Mora's relationship with Meghann Shaughnessy, whom he coached during the 1990s and 2000s. The relationship began when Shaughnessy was just 13 years old, and it reportedly evolved into an engagement when she turned 19, although the couple never married. This timeline has raised significant ethical questions within the tennis community.
Allegations of Inappropriate Relationship and Coercive Environment
Further details reveal that Shaughnessy left her family home at the age of 14 to reside in Font de Mora's house, which also accommodated other tennis players. At that time, Font de Mora was 25 years old, creating a substantial age gap that has fueled allegations of grooming and inappropriate influence. Font de Mora has publicly stated that their relationship only became romantic when Shaughnessy reached 18, but contemporaneous reports indicate that her parents attempted on two occasions to remove her from his coaching group, suggesting ongoing concerns about the nature of their interaction.
The second complaint against Font de Mora involves allegations of aggressive and verbally abusive behavior toward another player he previously coached. This individual claims that the coach exhibited bullying tactics, including swearing directly in her face and deliberately hitting tennis balls in her direction during training sessions. These accusations point to a pattern of conduct that may violate WTA standards for coach-player relationships.
Recent Developments and Player Responses
The investigation comes at a time when Font de Mora has recently joined the coaching team of American tennis player Peyton Stearns. When questioned about her awareness of her new coach's controversial history, Stearns provided a guarded response, stating, 'Yeah, I mean, it's been around, but, I think right now, just not really going to dive into that, no comment.' This reaction underscores the sensitivity and potential implications of the ongoing WTA probe for current professional relationships in tennis.
The WTA's safeguarding team is now tasked with thoroughly examining these complaints to determine whether Font de Mora's actions breached ethical guidelines or constituted misconduct. This case highlights broader issues of athlete protection and accountability within sports coaching, particularly concerning vulnerable young players.
