Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, WTA speak because Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai is still missing

Tennis professionals and politicians are calling for action against China as suspicions of the safety and well-being of the missing world-class doubles champion Peng Shua are growing. The stars Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, and Chris Evert are among the speakers. Hashtag #whereispengshuai trend on Twitter this week.

Peng, 35, wrote a post to Weibo, a Chinese social media agency, claiming he was harmed by former Chinese Premier Zhang Gaol. Peng claimed that Zhang, 75, forced him into sex despite repeated refusals after a round of tennis three years ago.

The message was quickly removed and Peng has since disappeared from social media and publicity. The tennis players and staff, led by Steve Simon, CEO of the Women’s Tennis Association, are demanding a full investigation into Peng’s allegations and guarantees of her safety and well-being.

FILE IMAGE: File image of Peng Shua of China serving in the Australian Open on January 15, 2019. REUTERS / Edgar Su / File Photo / File Photo

Chinese state-owned television company CGTN last week sent an email claiming it sent Peng to Simon, but he said the email only raises concerns and doubts about Peng’s safety. He pointed out that the statement does not reproduce the same tone and emotion as in his original post on the allegations.

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Simon escalated and threatened to pull the tournaments out of the country if China did not provide a proper response.

In response, CGTN released photos on Friday that Peng presumably published in his WeChat moments. In undated images, Peng is a black cat with a giant collection of stuffed animals in front, but the images – which have not been confirmed – have not eased the concern.

“Unless Peng Shuai himself appears and speaks clearly freely, all other communications should be skeptical, especially when it comes to the Chinese state media,” said Sophie Richardson, China’s director of Human Rights Watch. Forbes.

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Patrick McEnroe, a retired U.S. player and host Holding Court podcast, applauded Simon for taking a “pretty big stance” on the matter and threatening to drag tournaments over.

“I think the ATP should come along and show solidarity with the women’s tour and say, if we don’t get answers and guarantees about her safety and so on, we’re gone,” McEnroe said in an interview. Fox news.

FILE – Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli will then be seen at a meeting in a large public hall in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Chinese authorities have suppressed virtually every online conversation about sexual violence apparently presented by a Chinese professional. a tennis star against an even higher government official, showing how sensitive the ruling Communist Party is to such accusations. (AP Photo / Ng Han Guan, file)

“The tour has something to say – and of course individual players can say ‘I’m not going to China,'” he continued.

McEnroe pointed out that there are about 11-12 tournaments in China on a regular basis. All current tournaments have moved out of the country due to COVID-19 concerns, but that may not speed up the elimination of tournaments if organizations choose to implement Simon’s threat.

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Sports and the media struggle with the profound effects that the Chinese Communist regime can have on them wherever they operate. Contrary to the WTA’s clear position, the NBA had a public dispute with China over Hong Kong and freedom of expression, which attracted widespread criticism. The Olympics are still under threat due to China’s unresponsiveness to Peng’s situation, but no one is fully committed to pulling Olympic support and participation in the Beijing Games next year. Disney, Nike and other major international companies have also sparked criticism of their relationship with the Chinese government.

Removing tennis tournaments from China would give a significant economic blow to any sport, but McEnroe stressed how tennis has had to cope with the “reality” of less lucrative tournaments during a pandemic, which he says proves tennis will survive the changes.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 23: Team World Vice Captain Patrick McEnroe speaks on stage at the opening gala of the Laver Cup presented by Moët & Chandon before the 2021 Laver Cup at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston on September 23, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman / Getty Images for Laver Cup)
((photo by Adam Glanzman / Getty Images for Laver Cup))

“I’m proud to be a part of the tennis community and in my own little way of doing my part to talk about it,” McEnroe said. “I feel like this is a moment for us together and I say ‘This is not right.’

Republican senators also praised Simon’s actions in urging President Biden to respond in some way to China’s continued silence on the issue.

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Senator Ted Cruz, of R-Texas, wrote a letter to Simon expressing his support for his demands and his commitment to withdraw events from China if the Beijing authorities do not comply with them.

“Steve Simon and @WTA seem far too rare an example of combating the Chinese Communist Party’s brazen crimes and human rights abuses,” Cruz tweeted with his letter.

FILE – WTA CEO Steve Simon smiles at Martina Hingis’ retirement ceremony in Singapore on October 29, 2017. An email from Chinese state media to Twitter allegedly sent a Chinese tennis player to Twitter has raised concerns about her safety. the biggest stars in the sport and other foreigners call to inquire about his well-being and whereabouts. Simon, president and CEO of the Women’s Tennis Association, questioned the authenticity of the email addressed to him, in which Grand Slam doubles champion Peng Shuai said he was safe and that the assault charge was untrue. (AP Photo / Yong Teck Lim, file)

Biden recently told reporters that he has considered a “diplomatic boycott” of the games because of several problems between the United States and China. In this case, the United States would not send an official government delegation to the Olympics, but the athletes would still compete.

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Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Told Fox News that Biden needs to do more to address Peng’s situation.

“In light of the disappearance of tennis star Peng Shuai, it has become increasingly clear that the safety of Team USA athletes cannot be guaranteed at the 2022 Beijing Olympics,” Blackburn said. “The uncontrolled power and zero responsibility of the Chinese Communist Party puts our top American athlete in danger.”

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“That’s why I appeal to the U.S. Olympic Committee to refrain from sending American athletes to the 2022 Olympics,” he continued. “President Biden should instead host the Freedom Games in the United States to give athletes a chance to compete.”

Peng Shuai reached 14th in the world in doubles in 2011 and 1st in doubles in 2014.

Fox News’s Bryan Preston contributed to this report.