"I was not consenting": Fiona Ferro's former coach facing rape and sexual assault charges in France

FLASHBACK: Highlights from Ferro's 2021 triumph in Palermo when the WTA Tour reopened

Pierre Bouteyre, who previously coached Fiona Ferro, has been indicted on charges of raping and sexually assaulting the Frenchwoman when she was a teenager.

As reported by AFP, Ferro, 25, has accused Bouteyre of committing the acts between 2012 and 2015. According to Bouteyre’s lawyer, the 50-year-old, "recognizes the relationship occurred but denies any coercion, it was a love story according to him,” said Virginie Pin in a statement.

On Friday morning, Ferro uploaded a message on social media. In it, the two-time WTA champion refuted Bouteyre’s claims, stating in a translation, “I confirm that I was not consenting.”

Ferro thanked those who reached out with messages of support, while adding, “I place all my trust in the justice system of my country.”

Prior to Ferro, Bouteyre worked with Alizé Cornet for 10 years. According to L’Equipe, Cornet revealed she's been called to testify as a witness.

"It's far too serious and serious a subject for me to talk about during the tournament. It obviously affects me a lot and maybe that's one of the reasons why I don't sleep very well at night,” she told French press after defeating Katerina Siniakova in the second round of the US Open.

“Courage to Fiona. We are with her, we love her and all the girls in the locker room think of her very much.”

Ferro is currently ranked No. 259, having fallen in the first round of qualifying at Flushing Meadows. Her best major showing came in the round of 16 at 2020 Roland Garros. In March of 2021, Ferro achieved her career-high WTA ranking of No. 39.