Victoria Azarenka says tennis needs to improve its protection measures to prevent “vulnerable young women from being exploited”.
Azarenka, a member of the WTA Players Council, made her comments after French player Fiona Ferro accused her former coach Pierre Bouteyre of rape and sexual assault.
A lawyer for Bouteyre told AFP that he “acknowledges that there was a relationship but denies any coercion.”
“It’s a very sensitive subject,” said world number 26 Azarenka.
“You won’t hear these stories unless the players come and tell them,” added the 33-year-old Belarusian.
“It happens left and right on tour, which is a shame.
“Our job is to protect better. As a players’ council, that’s almost like the number one topic for us. Because we see these vulnerable young women being taken advantage of in different situations.
“It’s really sad and it makes me really emotional. If I had a daughter I would wonder if she would want to play tennis, that would be a really big concern for me.”
American Pam Shriver, winner of 22 Grand Slam doubles titles, told BBC Sport in April, she wanted to see safer tennis coaching for all levels after revealing she had an “inappropriate and damaging” relationship with former coach Don Candy during her playing career.
Azarenka added: “Just the recent story with Fiona Ferro that came out. I don’t know how to express it in words sometimes.
“All you can do is check in on the person and give them your hand: ‘What can I do?’ What can I do? »
“I commend her for her courage. I hope she comes out of this stronger and that tennis is not ruined for her because of this. It is, I think, a very, very heavy subject. But it is the subject that needs to come out more.”
The French Tennis Federation said it supported Ferro and that its sports integrity unit was studying the issue.
