“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 tennis player Victoria Azarenka in her 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.”

A two-time grand slam champion and a former number one, Azarenka is the highest-profile member of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) player council.

“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, as she recalled seeing coaches who manipulate female players into dependence and her comments have shed light on the news earlier this week regarding the rape and assault of French former No 39 Fiona Ferro between 2012 and 2015 when she was aged between 15 and 18, who filed charges against her former coach, Pierre Bouteyre. The latter admitted the relationship but argues that it was consensual. On Friday, Ferro released a statement on social media: “I confirm that I was not consenting". 

Azarenka stressed on safeguarding issues in the industry and directly addressed Ferro’s case expressing the need to sympathize and applauded her for speaking out on the matter, calling it a "very, very heavy topic". The tennis star also expressed her concerns if she were to have a daughter since she stated that issues like these are rarely seen on men's tennis tours.

Although Azarenka says the topic was discussed with other players, inappropriate coaching behavior and manipulation impede acknowledging the fact - until players stop winning: "When the winning stops, it becomes dark and there is nobody to hold your hand. That is the moment where it’s not talked about.”

In response to the tennis star's comments, 22-time double grand slam champion Pam Shriver referred to the prioritization of safeguarding and thanked Azarenka for her comments on social media, as Shriver herself earlier this year revealed “an inappropriate and damaging relationship” she had with her former coach, Don Candy.

“The more players, current and retired, are willing to address abuse, the faster the workplace will become safer. Thank you Vika,” wrote Shriver.