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Coach Dumps Tennis Star Via Text, Then Vanishes
28 May
Summary
- Player was texted a breakup message by his coach after a match.
- Coach reportedly left the tournament and flew to Miami without notice.
- Player claims coach blocked him and his wife online after abrupt departure.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the 21st seed at the French Open, revealed that his coach, Mariano Puerta, abruptly ended their professional relationship via text message. Puerta, a former French Open finalist, allegedly sent a lengthy message after Davidovich Fokina's initial five-set victory and then departed for Miami without further communication.
Davidovich Fokina found himself without a coach for his second-round match, which he lost. He stated that Puerta had not communicated his decision to anyone on the team before leaving. The player mentioned hearing about similar past instances involving Puerta with other players.
Despite speculation of a dispute, Davidovich Fokina insisted their interactions were normal and communicative during his first-round match. He expressed disappointment and surprise at Puerta's actions, reflecting that he regretted hiring him after discovering this pattern of behavior.
Puerta, who previously coached other professional players, posted on social media about returning to Miami, commenting on his own 'guts' as a coach.
