Peyton Stearns parts company with coach, two months after misconduct investigation

(Getty/Robert Prange)

American world No.48 Peyton Stearns has split from coach Rafael Font de Mora amid a WTA investigation into misconduct.

Stearns exited the first round of Indian Wells last week in straight sets at the hands of Solana Sierra.

A few days earlier, the 24-year-old clinched the ATX Open title in Austin, where she was guided by new coach, Roberto Ortega, despite just three weeks working together.

During an interview on Saturday night, Stearns confirmed that she had parted ways with Font de Mora after the Australian Open. When asked why by The Athletic, she said: "I'm not going to dive into that."

According to The Athletic, a representative for Stearns declined to respond to a request for comment.

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In January, the WTA Tour was rocked by "inappropriate" coaching allegations linked to Font de Mora's treatment of Stearns, raised by two former players, including former world No.3 Pam Shriver.

However, Font de Mora has always denied the allegations.

"Your questions are statements that are not true," he wrote to The Athletic. "I coordinate my training and sprints with professional trainers and biomechanist(s) and I am a very positive coach."

Font de Mora provided The Athletic with the contact details of Stearns and her trainer, Kathryn Whartenby, arguing that the pair would give "an exact idea" of his methods.

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