Kylie McKenzie explained

Kylie McKenzie (born 21 March 1999) is an American tennis player from Arizona.^[1]

Junior career

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

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

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 W15 event in Monastir before she was defeated by Nina Radovanovic in the final.^[13]

ITF Circuit finals

Singles: 1 (runner-up)

Notes and References

1. Web site: K.McKenzie. WTA. May 30, 2023.
2. Web site: Phoenix tennis player Kylie McKenzie sues USTA over alleged sexual assault from coach. AZ Central. May 30, 2023. Angela. Perez. March 29, 2022.
3. Web site: Tennis player Kylie McKenzie sues coach over sexual assault. Marca. March 30, 2023. May 30, 2023.
4. Web site: Anthem's Kylie McKenzie sees U.S. Open Junior run end. Steve. Pratt . May 30, 2023. azcentral.
5. Web site: Arizona tennis prodigy Kylie McKenzie sues USTA for failing to protect her from 'known sexual abuser'. cronkitenews.azpbs.org. Kevin. Redfern. May 30, 2023. March 29, 2022.
6. Web site: Kylie McKenzie sues USTA, says organization failed to protect her from abusive tennis coach. espn. May 30, 2023. March 29, 2023.
7. Web site: Matthew. Futterman. March 23, 2022. New York Times. A Once Promising Tennis Player Speaks Out Against a Former U.S.T.A. Coach. May 30, 2023.
8. Web site: Kylie McKenzie Sues U.S.T.A., Claiming It Failed to Keep Her Safe. The New York Times. May 30, 2023. March 28, 2022. Matthew. Futterman.
9. Tennis Player Sues USTA Over Alleged Sexual Abuse by Coach. March 29, 2022. Sports Illustrated.
10. Web site: USTA ordered to pay former top junior tennis player $9m in sexual abuse case. The Guardian. 8 May 2024. 7 May 2024.
11. Web site: August 27, 2021. May 30, 2023. Local Tennis Star Signs With iTUSA Tennis Academy. Businesswire.com.
12. Web site: Tennis product turns to Glendale training center to go pro. Yourvalley.net. May 30, 2023. August 31, 2021.
13. Web site: Nina Radovanovic (CT Beaucourt) pockets a second ITF title. L'Est Républicain. March 19, 2023. May 24, 2023.