- McKenzie sued the US Tennis Association (USTA) for failing to act when she reported that she was molested
- Anibal Aranda, who worked as a USTA coach for around seven years molested her
- Anibal was later fired by the American national governing body of tennis
A recent ruling by a federal court in Florida awarding former tennis player Kylie McKenzie $9 million exposed the dark side of the sport.
McKenzie sued the US Tennis Association (USTA) for failing to act when she reported that she was molested in one of its facilities by her coach. She was a teenager at the time but she has carried this pain with her for years.
The jury in its verdict indicted UTA for failing to act on the matter and further slapped it with a $9 million fine in damages to McKenzie.
WHEN DID KYLIE MCKENZIE SUE US TENNIS ASSOCIATION?
Now 25, the ex-tennis prodigy filed the lawsuit against UTA in March 2022. She indicated that Anibal Aranda, who worked as a USTA coach for around seven years molested her sexually. According to the lawsuit, Aranda was a serial molester preying on young girls looking at building a future in tennis.
Anibal was later fired by the American national governing body of tennis. The jury at the US District Court in Orlando, Florida heard that the coach also ‘battered’ her besides committing the other atrocities. In addition, McKenzie and her attorneys accused USTA of gross negligence by failing to supervise the coach who had a tainted ethical history.
During a news conference in 2022, McKenzie stated that Aranda’s actions made her experience anxiety, panic attacks, and despair.
Kylie McKenzie. Photo/The New York Times
“My confidence and my self-esteem was gone both on and off the court,” she told CNN.
In a statement through her attorney Amy Judkins, the plaintiff lauded the jury’s verdict saying she feels justice has been served.
“I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. I feel validated. It was very hard, but I feel now that it was all worth it. I hope I can be an example for other girls to speak out even when it’s difficult,” her emailed statement to her lawyer read.
DID ANIBAL ARANDA MOLEST MCKENZIE?
Aranda, according to The Athletic, denied ever molesting athletes at USTA training centres as her complainant indicated. However, McKenzie’s attorneys proved to the court that the disgraced USTA coach started his ill-mannered behaviour in 2018.
She had just turned 19 and moved to USTA headquarters in Orlando to harness her tennis skills and many had hopes in her becoming the next biggest tennis player in the US. Aranda started mentoring her and he started making suggestive comments about her. He described how she looked, asked about her personal life, and would make inappropriate physical advances toward her.
Former USTA coach Anibal Aranda. Photo. AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
During what McKenzie claimed to be a serving drill in October 2018, Aranda positioned himself directly behind her. His body was crushed up against her behind and even went further to grab her hips. She told the court that Aranda moved his finger to her groin with each serve she made. He pressed her groin area harder with every serve she made and she almost tipped.
Her attorneys further told the court that Aranda suggestively touched her. At the conclusion of a rehearsal in November 2018, McKenzie said in her submission to the court said that Aranda touched her thigh. Also, he moved his hand under a towel on her lap and massaged her groin over her clothing.
USTA REACTS TO RULING
Chris Widmaier, a spokesman of USTA said that they would appeal this ruling adding that they are sympathetic to what Kylie Mckenzie went through. Widdmaier stated that they are not disputing her allegations against Aranda
The USTA spokesperson said that he was troubled that the jury found the USTA at fault over the fault of one of its ex-staff. Widdmaier said that she only reported her molestation by Aranda after the tennis body fired him.
He said that the American tennis governing body feels unjust following the ruling because the victim should have reported before the coach was fired. USTA has since hired two big-shot lawyers from Washington to look at abuse cases and advice on how best to respond to them.
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