Former Ukrainian tennis star, Julia Vakulenko, has unveiled a chilling narrative of the abuse she suffered during her early career, during an interview with L’Equipe. The shocking revelations shed light on the underbelly of player-coach relationships in the world of tennis, a topic that has been hotly debated in recent months following the Elena Rybakina and Stefano Vukov situation.
Vakulenko, who once graced the US Open’s round-of-16 in 2007 and held the position of world No. 32, bravely recounted her heart-wrenching experience of sexual and mental abuse when she was just 15 years old. She revealed how her then-coach transgressed professional boundaries, allegedly forcing her into a situation that she described as “unimaginable suffering.”
Detailing the horrors of her experience, the 41-year-old former player narrated, “We shared the same hotel room. He lay down next to me, touched me, and hugged me.” The coach supposedly professed his love for her while asserting that she was his possession, and her success would solely be attributed to him.
Vakulenko said that the coach’s manipulative behavior led her to blame herself and dread the arrival of a new day. She was made to feel like his property and was coerced into obeying his every command, including those of a sexual nature. “Everyday life became a nightmare. I didn’t want mornings to come,” Vakulenko added.
In addition to the sexual abuse, the coach allegedly isolated Vakulenko, cutting her off from any form of support. This mental confinement, coupled with the threat of punishment for any perceived misconduct, left her feeling helpless and trapped. “I was isolated entirely, and no one could help me. I couldn’t see any way out,” Vakulenko admitted.
Vakulenko’s ordeal ended tragically but ultimately led to her liberation. She broke her arm in a fit of frustration after her 18th birthday, which was the catalyst for her to gather the strength to terminate her association with the coach.
These revelations from Vakulenko, who turned pro in 1998 and retired from professional tennis in 2011, bring to the forefront the urgent need for a thorough reassessment and reform of player-coach relationships in tennis. Her brave disclosure could pave the way for other victims to come forward and for the tennis community to take decisive action against such abuse.
