“I fully support the WTA’s position because we don’t have enough information about Peng Shuai and her well-being,” Djokovic said during the Davis Cup in Madrid on Wednesday. “Her health is of the utmost importance to the tennis world,” he added.
The 35-year-old Peng, former world number 1 in doubles, accused former Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli of sexual abuse on the Chinese social medium Weibo in early November. Her worrying message soon disappeared from the internet and the tennis star was not heard from again for more than two weeks.
The WTA fears that China is committing censorship and therefore avoids the country. Union president Steve Simon called China’s actions unacceptable. “If powerful people can suppress women’s voices and brush aside allegations of sexual assault, then the very foundation on which the WTA is founded – equality for women – will fall. I will not and cannot let the WTA and its players happen. Given the current state of play, I am also very concerned about the risks to all our players and staff if we were to hold events in China in 2022,” Simon said in a statement.
China will host the Winter Olympics in two months.
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