The WTA continued to express its concerns for Peng Shuai after the Chinese tennis star publicly said that she had disappeared or been sexually assaulted.
Peng broke her silence in an interview with French publication L’Equipe, insisting she has never been “missing” or sexually assaulted by anyone.
It is the second time Peng has publicly retracted her initial allegations of sexual assault.
The 36-year-old first claimed via social media in November that China’s former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli sexually abused her in 2017.
After the post was removed from social media within an hour, Peng was not seen in public for weeks, prompting the tennis community and fans to raise concerns about her well-being amid WTA tournaments in China being canceled and some countries refusing to send diplomats there Olympics 2022 in Beijing.
Despite her L’Equipe interview, Steve Simon, WTA chairman and CEO, admitted he still had concerns about Peng’s safety and well-being and insisted that her initial sexual assault allegations be investigated.
“It’s always good to see Peng Shuai, whether in an interview or at the Olympics,” Simon said in a statement on the WTA website.
“However, her recent personal interview does not alleviate any of our concerns regarding her first post on November 2nd.
“To reiterate our view, Peng has taken a bold step by publicly raising allegations that she was sexually assaulted by a senior Chinese government leader.
“As we would do with any of our players worldwide, we have called for a formal investigation into the allegations by the relevant authorities and an opportunity for the WTA to meet with Peng – privately – to discuss their situation.
“We remain firm in our position and our thoughts remain with Peng Shuai.”
