WOMEN’S TOUR QUITS CHINA OVER PENG ‘ARREST’

WOMEN’S tennis united last night to support Peng Shuai by suspending all tournaments in China. The 2013 Wimbledon doubles champion appears to be under house arrest after making allegations of sexual assault against China’s former vice-premier. Steve Simon, chief executive of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), issued another robust statement calling for a transparent investigation. By suspending events in China, including Hong Kong, the WTA have put in jeopardy more than £30million of prize money, plus large staging fees. The country has become a huge part of their market. In the last scheduled calendar prior to the pandemic it was due to host 10 events on the WTA Tour, plus more on the lower rungs of the circuit. These were sanctioned by Simon and how they will be replaced is unclear. The WTA have yet to announce their calendar for the latter part of 2022, which is when the vast majority are due to take place. Simon said he had ‘serious doubts’ that Peng was ‘free, safe and not subject to intimidation’, adding: ‘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. 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.’ Simon did say that the whereabouts of Peng Shuai are now known. It will now be interesting to see the reaction of the men’s ATP Tour.