Tennis Star Stearns Splits with Coach Amid Misconduct Allegations
Rising American tennis talent Peyton Stearns has parted ways with her coach, Rafael Font de Mora, as the latter faces serious accusations of alleged misconduct and inappropriate relationships with players. Stearns confirmed the split to The Athletic but chose not to elaborate on the specific reasons behind their professional separation.
The decision comes in the wake of an investigation by The Athletic, which revealed that two former Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) players have lodged formal complaints with the tour’s safeguarding director concerning Font de Mora’s past conduct. Among the accusers is Pam Shriver, a multi-time Grand Slam doubles champion, who has spoken out about her concerns.
Font de Mora’s return to the professional circuit at the beginning of the current season marked his re-entry after a hiatus of several years. His reappearance, however, reportedly triggered a wave of unease and prompted former players to come forward with their grievances.
Shriver’s Complaint and a History of Controversy
Pam Shriver’s complaint specifically centres on a relationship Font de Mora allegedly had with a player he coached during the 1990s and early 2000s. This player has been identified as Meghann Shaughnessy. According to reports, Font de Mora began coaching Shaughnessy when she was just 13 years old. At the age of 14, Shaughnessy moved into Font de Mora’s residence, a move that occurred when he was 25. The relationship reportedly escalated, with Font de Mora becoming engaged to Shaughnessy when she was 19.
Shriver herself has spoken about her own experience with an inappropriate relationship with a coach, which began when she was 17. It was after encountering Font de Mora at the Australian Open in January of this year, within a hotel setting, that she decided to report him to the WTA.
Font de Mora, addressing the specifics of his relationship with Shaughnessy, stated that it remained platonic until she reached the age of 18. The pair ultimately separated in 2005, and they never married. Shaughnessy, whose parents reportedly made two attempts to intervene and remove her from Font de Mora’s coaching, has not publicly made any allegations of wrongdoing against her former coach.
Allegations of Abuse and Extreme Training Methods
Beyond Shriver’s complaint, a second complainant, who has chosen to remain anonymous, has also come forward. This individual has alleged that Font de Mora exhibited “aggressive, physically and verbally abusive behavior toward her, including swearing in her face and hitting balls aggressively in her direction,” as detailed by The Athletic.
Adding further weight to these claims, a third player, who was coached by Font de Mora but has not filed a formal complaint, has corroborated the second complainant’s description of abusive behaviour. This player also recalled training sessions where “players were worked until they were on the verge of physical collapse.” She further revealed that her experience under his tutelage was markedly different from other coaches, stating, “no other coach made her play as long or as under fueled.”
Font de Mora’s Response and Stearns’ Stance
In response to the outlet’s inquiries regarding the complaints, Font de Mora issued a statement in January: “Your questions are statements that are not true. I coordinate my training and sprints with professional trainers and biomechanist(s) and I am a very positive coach.”
Peyton Stearns has not made any public statements alleging misconduct by Font de Mora. When questioned at the Australian Open about her awareness of his past on the WTA Tour, she offered a brief response: “Yeah, I mean, it’s been around, but I think right now, just not really going to dive into that, no comment.” This indicates a desire to distance herself from the controversy while acknowledging its existence. The tennis world will undoubtedly be watching to see how these allegations unfold and what implications they may have for the sport’s safeguarding practices.
