Peng Shuai’s Disappearance And 'Reappearance' Invites A Grand 'Slam' From WTA; All Upcoming Tournaments In China Suspended

Yesterday, Steve Simon, the chairman of Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) stated that the WTA was suspending all of its upcoming tournaments in China.

This move by the WTA comes at a moment when almost a month after Peng Shuai’s disappearance, fears about her safety have not been allayed.

In a statement released by the WTA, Simon states that he is “announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong."

The twelve-time Grand Slam singles champion, who contributed to the establishment of the WTA back in 1973, said that, “The WTA is on the right side of history”. Novak Djokovic praised the WTA’s decision as “very bold and very courageous”.

On 21 November, a video emerged on Chinese social media showing the missing Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai at a tournament in Beijing. She reappeared at a youth tournament where she was seen greeting and signing tennis balls for children.

She is a three-time Olympics medallist and a well-known sporting star in China. On 2 November, in an emotional post on social media, she accused former Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli of coercing her into sex.

“Even if it’s just striking a stone with a pebble or a moth attacking a flame, I will tell the truth about you”, she wrote in a 1600-word post.

According to Reuters, the post was deleted by the Chinese authorities within 30 minutes of it being published, but screenshots of the post were widely shared in messaging apps.

“She knew the dangers she would face, yet she went public anyway. I admire her strength and courage”, Simon said.

Zhang Gaoli was the member of China’s highest decision making body — the Politburo Standing Committee — from 2012 to 2017. Within a few days, the notorious Chinese firewall cracked down on any discussion related to her allegation against the former Vice-Premier.

Search entries for the story about her allegation yielded no results in China.

She had disappeared from the public eye since 2 November and many people, including other tennis players, were concerned about her safety and began to raise awareness about her disappearance.

“Hey everyone, not sure if you have been following the news but I was recently informed of a fellow tennis player that has gone missing shortly after revealing that she has been sexually abused #WhereIsPengShuai” wrote Naomi Osaka on her twitter handle.

“While we know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion, intimidation”, the Chairman of WTA said yesterday.

China will be hosting the Winter Olympics in February and it is an occasion for national pride. As a result of Peng Shuai’s disappearance, calls for a boycott of the Winter Olympics had grown louder.

Simon had previously said that WTA was prepared to pull out from China if Peng’s safety was not assured.

In recent times, there has been a trend of many sports federations like the NBA kowtowing to China due to the huge market and opportunity for growth.

WTA’s stand, however, is being praised by people all over social media.

According to Reuters, U.S. State department spokesperson Ned Price said that they are concerned and are monitoring the situation closely. Previously, many social media users had claimed that her reappearance was staged and an attempt by the CCP to diffuse the widespread criticism.

Steve Simon’s statement and the WTA’s move suggests their views align with this view.