Kylie McKenzie
| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 March 1999 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Prize money | US$12,424 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 64–48 (57.1%) |
| Highest ranking | (No. 696 November 7, 2016) |
| Current ranking | (No. 775 October 9, 2023) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| US Open Junior | QF (2015) |
| Doubles | |
| Highest ranking | (No. 777 March 6, 2016) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| US Open Junior | 1R (2015, 2016) |
| Last updated on: 9 October 2023. | |
Kylie McKenzie (born 21 March 1999) is an American tennis player from Arizona.[1]
Junior career[edit]
From Phoenix, Arizona,[2] McKenzie joined the United States Tennis Association’s full-time training team in California at twelve years-old. She subsequently won the national under-16 championship at fifteen years-old.[3] McKenzie played in the 2015 US Girls’ singles, where she reached the quarter-final before losing to Fanny Stollar.[4]
Aged eighteen she transferred to the USTA facility in Orlando, Florida.[5] McKenzie alleged coach Anibal Aranda touched her vagina after a practice in November 2018 at the USTA's training center in Florida when she was nineteen years-old. McKenzie has since said that the sexual abuse had negatively affected her confidence, self-esteem and caused anxiety that had a detrimental effect on her tennis career.[6] The Police stated there was probable cause for a charge of battery, and turned the evidence over to the state attorney's office, which ultimately opted not to pursue a case. The coach was suspended and then fired by the USTA.[7]
Legal action[edit]
In March 2022 McKenzie filed a federal lawsuit against the United States Tennis Association after an investigation by SafeSport found it was "more likely than not" that she had suffered a sexual assault by a coach at a United States Tennis Association training centre.[8][9] In May 2024, a jury in Florida awarded McKenzie $3m in compensation with an additional $6m in punitive damages.[10]
Professional career[edit]
McKenzie began a professional tennis career in August 2021, based at the iTUSA Tennis Academy in Glendale.[11][12] In March 2023 she reached the final of an ITF T15 event in Monastir before she was defeated by Nina Radovanovic in the final.[13]
References[edit]
- ^ "K.McKenzie". WTA. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Perez, Angela (March 29, 2022). "Phoenix tennis player Kylie McKenzie sues USTA over alleged sexual assault from coach". AZ Central. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Tennis player Kylie McKenzie sues coach over sexual assault". Marca. March 30, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Pratt, Steve. "Anthem's Kylie McKenzie sees U.S. Open Junior run end". azcentral. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Redfern, Kevin (March 29, 2022). "Arizona tennis prodigy Kylie McKenzie sues USTA for failing to protect her from 'known sexual abuser'". cronkitenews.azpbs.org. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Kylie McKenzie sues USTA, says organization failed to protect her from abusive tennis coach". espn. March 29, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Futterman, Matthew (March 23, 2022). "A Once Promising Tennis Player Speaks Out Against a Former U.S.T.A. Coach". New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Futterman, Matthew (March 28, 2022). "Kylie McKenzie Sues U.S.T.A., Claiming It Failed to Keep Her Safe". nytimes. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Tennis Player Sues USTA Over Alleged Sexual Abuse by Coach". Sports Illustrated. March 29, 2022.
- ^ "USTA ordered to pay former top junior tennis player $9m in sexual abuse case". The Guardian. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Local Tennis Star Signs With iTUSA Tennis Academy". Businesswire.com. August 27, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Tennis product turns to Glendale training center to go pro". Yourvalley.net. August 31, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Nina Radovanovic (CT Beaucourt) pockets a second ITF title". L'Est Républicain. March 19, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.