In the competitive realm of professional tennis, players’ personal lives are frequently under attention besides their play. In the middle of the victories and setbacks, the story of rising female tennis star Sofia Kenin has become entangled with that of her ex-boyfriend Max Wenders. Wenders, a Dutch coach, had a reputation for working with several WTA players. However, it was Max Wenders’ relationship with 2020 Australian Open winner Kenin, rather than his tennis skills, that brought him into the public limelight.

However, after Wenders faced match-fixing allegations, their relationship—which had previously garnered attention from the tabloids—experienced a significant shift. Let’s delve deeper and find out more about their relationship and the controversy around Max Wenders.

Sofia Kenin’s former boyfriend sheds light on the ‘two things’ that matter the most to him

Max Wenders, discovered early in his tennis career that he lacked the resources to pursue a career in pro tennis. But he was a notable figure on the WTA Tour. This is because he coached Sofia Kenin along with other players like the former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. Not only that, he has also worked with Anett Kontaveit and doubles specialist Demi Schuurs. Wenders started his coaching career at a very young age.

When asked about why he was ready to coach high-profile players as well as players with a lower rank, he had an interesting answer. “For me, two things matter the most. First is respect, and second, whether I like what I am doing,” he once said.

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He then went on to add, “If I don’t get respect and don’t like what I am doing, it doesn’t matter to me if you are in the top 10.” Wenders enrolled in a Belgian academy at the age of 15. There, he served as a coach for the young kids.

Dutch Tennis Coach Max Wenders Banned by ITIA for 12 Years

Apart from being a wonderful coach, he was also briefly associated with his girlfriend, Sofia Kenin. Kenin publicly announced her relationship with him by saying, ‘I love you’ on Instagram. However, their relationship ended after  Max Wenders faced accusations of match-fixing. Here’s what we know about the story.

Wenders’ confession after being charged with match-fixing

The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced in April 2021 that Dutch tennis instructor Max Wenders had received a 12-year ban from the sport for match-fixing. The ex-boyfriend of Kenin admitted to ‘multiple match-fixing charges,’ according to the ITIA, and he also confessed to destroying evidence.

A regulation that prohibits anybody involved in tennis from directly or indirectly, facilitating any player to not use his or her best efforts in any event, was the basis for the accusation made against Wenders. The ITIA did not identify any players or specify the time or location of the alleged behavior.

During a hearing in April 2021, the ITIA imposed a ban and a fine of $12,000 on Wenders. After the statements from Max Wenders’ legal counsel, the ITIA made the sanctions public in July. The major governing bodies of the sport prohibited him from participating in any tennis competition sanctioned until 2023.

It was during this time that he split with his girlfriend, Sofia Kenin. Kenin declared in November 2021 that her dad had returned to her coaching squad ‘after a very bumpy road’ in her life. What are your thoughts on Max Wenders’ relationship with Sofia Kenin and his subsequent match-fixing charges?

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