Fiona Ferro, a tennis player who made allegations of sexual assault against her former coach, has made a comeback at the U.S. Open.

In New York, Fiona Ferro, a tennis player, made allegations of rape against her former coach, Pierre Bouteyre, shortly after failing to qualify for the U.S. Open last year. The case is currently unresolved, and Ferro took a break from the tour after sharing her story publicly. However, she made her comeback at Flushing Meadows on Monday, participating in the main draw of the Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2021.

Ferro, a French wild-card participant, was defeated by Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, in the first round with a score of 6-1, 6-2. Ferro mentioned that she has not enlisted the services of a new personal coach. Instead, she is currently training alongside a small group of players under the guidance of Eric Winogradsky, a coach from the French tennis federation.

“I didn’t feel fully prepared to start a new project with a personal coach,” Ferro expressed on Monday. “I believe being part of a group with other players was necessary for me, as it was challenging to be alone with just one coach.”

Ferro took a break from the sport until the end of the previous season. She then started participating in club matches with her friends, which reignited her passion for tennis.

“I believe the break was essential for me as I was dealing with multiple challenges simultaneously. The case required me to face some difficult moments,” expressed Ferro, a 26-year-old tennis player who has achieved a ranking as high as No. 39 and reached the fourth round of the 2020 French Open. “Afterward, I resumed practicing at the federation.”

The Associated Press typically does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly.

Last year, Ferro expressed her accusation against Bouteyre on social media, stating, “I did not give my consent.”

She was just one of the female tennis players who brought attention to the issue of protecting athletes from predatory coaches. The women’s tennis tour, the WTA, hired a director of safeguarding at the end of 2022, Lindsay Brandon, a lawyer whose past clients include athletes disputing doping suspensions.

“At present, my case is still in progress, therefore I am unable to discuss it in detail. However, the (French) federation is backing me in this matter. They have assigned a coach to assist me, and I find comfort in knowing that I can communicate with them effectively. This aspect holds great significance for me,” expressed Ferro.

“They are genuinely attentive to my concerns, and I believe they are actively taking steps to address this issue. It is clear that this problem is not unique to me, but may have also affected other athletes, perhaps not only in tennis but in other sports as well,” she expressed. “Therefore, it is crucial that we acknowledge and tackle this matter. The federation is making efforts to resolve it.”

Ferro mentioned that she has also received assistance from the WTA and other fellow athletes throughout her legal proceedings.

Ferro stated that a few players approached him in the locker room to express their admiration and well wishes, acknowledging his bravery.

After their match concluded at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Monday, Azarenka, a former top-ranked player and the 18th seed at the U.S. Open, placed her hand on Ferro’s shoulder and leaned in to whisper “some kind words” in her ear, as Ferro described it.

Ferro expressed that she was delighted to see me return and extended her well wishes for my upcoming tournaments. Hearing this was truly heartwarming for me.