Find tour dates and live music events for all your favorite bands and artists in your city! Get concert tickets, news and more!

  • Analytics
  • Tour Dates

Women’s Tennis Association Suspends Events In China Over Concern For The Safety Of Tennis Star Peng Shuai

Peng Shuai
Peng Shuai (Shutterstock)
1055 0

(CelebrityAccess) — On Wednesday, the Women’s Tennis Association announced it was suspending all tournaments in China, including the prestigious Hong Kong Open, effective immediately over concern for the safety of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai.

In November, Peng Shui accused former vice premier of the country Zhang Gaoli of sexually assaulting her in a social media post. The post was subsequently removed and she appeared to drop out of public life and stopped communicating via social media.

Following her disappearance, WTA chief executive Steve Simon, called on Chinese officials to investigate her allegations and to end any censorship of her.

State media in China has subsequently released an email to Simon, purportedly from Peng, which claimed that she was safe at home, denied the sexual assault claim that she had previously alleged, and said that reports that she was missing were untrue. However, details about the email, including the appearance of a cursor in the screen shot, raised doubts about its authenticity.

On November 21st, the International Olympic Committee said Peng had spoken to Olympics officials in a video call and said she “is safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time” however, the IOC did not release a copy of the video.

In a statement announcing their decision to suspend operations in China, Simon said:

When on November 2, 2021, Peng Shuai posted an allegation of sexual assault against a top Chinese government official, the Women’s Tennis Association recognized that Peng Shuai’s message had to be listened to and taken seriously. The players of the WTA, not to mention women around the world, deserve nothing less.

From that moment forward, Peng Shuai demonstrated the importance of speaking out, particularly when it comes to sexual assault, and especially when powerful people are involved. As Peng said in her post, “Even if it is like an egg hitting a rock, or if I am like a moth drawn to the flame, inviting self-destruction, I will tell the truth about you.” She knew the dangers she would face, yet she went public anyway. I admire her strength and courage.

Since then, Peng’s message has been removed from the internet and discussion of this serious issue has been censored in China. Chinese officials have been provided the opportunity to cease this censorship, verifiably prove that Peng is free and able to speak without interference or intimidation, and investigate the allegation of sexual assault in a full, fair and transparent manner. Unfortunately, the leadership in China has not addressed this very serious issue in any credible way. While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation. The WTA has been clear on what is needed here, and we repeat our call for a full and transparent investigation – without censorship – into Peng Shuai’s sexual assault accusation.


None of this is acceptable nor can it become acceptable. If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded – equality for women – would suffer an immense setback. I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players.

As a result, and with the full support of the WTA Board of Directors, I am announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong. In good conscience, I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault. Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022.

I have been gratified by the massive amount of international support the WTA has received for its position on this matter. To further protect Peng and many other women throughout the world, it is more urgent than ever for people to speak out. The WTA will do everything possible to protect its players. As we do so, I hope leaders around the world will continue to speak out so justice can be done for Peng, and all women, no matter the financial ramifications.

I very much regret it has come to this point. The tennis communities in China and Hong Kong are full of great people with whom we have worked for many years. They should be proud of their achievements, hospitality and success. However, unless China takes the steps we have asked for, we cannot put our players and staff at risk by holding events in China. China’s leaders have left the WTA with no choice. I remain hopeful that our pleas will be heard and the Chinese authorities will take steps to legitimately address this issue.

Join CelebrityAccess Now