Julia Vakulenko made a stunning claim and revelation during an interview with L’Equipe, revealing that she was exposed to mental and even sexual abuse very early in her career.
Over the last couple of months, there has been a lot of talk about toxic player/coach relationships in tennis – mainly because of the Elena Rybakina and Stefano Vukov situation. While the Kazakh has been firm in her defense of her coach, some former players are not buying it and believe it is a classic example of what some call “a toxic Tour relationship.”
Now, Vakulenko – who reached the US Open round-of-16 in 2007 – is opening up about her traumatic experience. According to the former world No. 32, she was only 15 when the abuse by her coach started.
Vakulenko: He kept telling me I belonged to him…
“We shared the same hotel room. He lay down next to me, touched me, and hugged me,” the 41-year-old told L’Equipe.
“He kept telling me he loved me deeply, that I belonged to him, and that I would become his wife and a champion only because of him. I had to obey him in everything, even sexually. I was his possession. It was unimaginable suffering. You start hating yourself, thinking, ‘It’s because I’m pretty, it’s my fault.’ Everyday life became a nightmare. I didn’t want mornings to come.”
Also, Vakulenko claimed that she was completely isolated at one point and not allowed to interact with others – and is she did something “wrong” – she would be punished.
“He created this mental dependence. I was isolated entirely, and no one could help me. I couldn’t see any way out,” the former player added.
In the same interview, Vakulenko also shared that she gathered enough to end the partnership only after getting frustrated and breaking her arm in a moment of frustration. That scene happened after her 18th birthday.
The Ukrainian turned pro in 1998 and walked away from pro tennis in 2011 at a relatively young age.
Tennis World USA