WTA says return of Chinese tournaments will depend on resolution of Peng Shuai case

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has advised that the return of its tournament events to China in 2023 will depend on a resolution to the matter of retired player’s Peng Shuai’s welfare.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that the governing body of the women's game still awaited meet the Chinese former doubles world number one face to face following her having accused a senior government Chinese official of sexual assault in a social media post.

Her post caused an international outcry over her safety and led the WTA to suspend tournaments in China - a decision costing the women's tour hundreds of millions of dollars in broadcasting and sponsorship.

After making the allegation in November 2021, Peng then briefly disappeared from the public eye, before later withdrawing her statement.

At the time, the WTA called for a "formal investigation" into her accusations.

Now it has advised in a statement, that it would not "compromise its founding principles" to operate events in China.

In a statement released yesterday, the WTA advised “we have received confirmation that Peng is safe and comfortable, but we have not yet met with her personally.

"There has not been any change in the WTA position on a return to China and we have only confirmed our 2023 calendar through US Open.

"A return to the region will require a resolution to the Peng situation in which she took a bold step in publicly coming forth with the accusation that she was sexually assaulted by a senior Chinese government leader (former Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli, ed).

"As we would do with any of our players globally, we have called for a formal investigation into the allegations by the appropriate authorities and an opportunity for the WTA to meet with Peng - privately - to discuss her situation."

The WTA said it had received confirmation Peng was safe and comfortable but were yet to meet with her personally, adding “we continue to hold firm on our position and our thoughts remain with Peng.

"The WTA continues to work towards a resolution.

"While we have always indicated we are hopeful we will be in a position to again operate WTA events in the region, we will not compromise our founding principles in order to do so."

In 2nd November 2021, Peng caused an uproar with a 1,600 word essay on Chinese social media platform Weibo, where she claimed that the former Chinese Vice-Premier forced her into sex during a years-long relationship.

It sparked international concern for her safety and prompted the WTA to suspend tournaments in China.

While Peng attended the Winter Olympics in Beijing last February, she has not been seen outside China since first making the allegations. She retired from competitive tennis in February 2022.

Zhang has not publicly commented on the allegation.

He was a highly visible presence at the 20th Communist Party Congress last October.

Image: Shuai Peng competes at the WTA Malaysian Open in 2017. Credit: Shutterstock.