Category: WTA

Women’s Tennis Association Sets Precedent in Pressuring China Over Rights Issues

News Analysis The Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) announcement last week of its decision not to hold tournaments in China next year in response to Beijing’s silencing of tennis star Peng Shuai, who has made allegations sexual assault against former vice premier Zhang Gaoli, is the latest sign of heightened awareness worldwide of the communist regime’s…


US Backs Women’s Tennis Association in Boycotting China Over Peng Shuai

The State Department said it’s standing with the Women’s Tennis Association in taking on Beijing over Peng Shuai, China’s top tennis player who disappeared for weeks after she publicly denounced a retired senior Chinese official for sexually assaulting her. The WTA on Dec. 1 moved to halt all matches in mainland China and Hong Kong…


WTA: Loss of Tournaments in China Over Tennis Star Could Go Past 2022

The Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) pushback against China’s authoritarian disappearance of tennis player Peng Shuai could lead to cancellations of events beyond 2022. “We’re hopeful we get to the right place, but we are prepared if it continues as it is—which hasn’t been productive to date—that we will not be operating in the region,” Steve…


Women’s Tennis Association Pulls Out of China Over Censorship of Peng Shuai

The Women’s Tennis Association is suspending all tournaments in mainland China and Hong Kong due to concerns over Beijing’s treatment of tennis star Peng Shuai. “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…


Emails From Chinese Tennis Star Were Clearly Influenced: WTA Chairman

The head of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) is to suspend future email communication with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, as the once-missing player still cannot express herself freely, a spokesman said on Nov. 27. The sports body had been seeking to hear from the former top-ranked doubles player over the past three weeks. It…


WTA: Chinese Tennis Star’s Call With IOC Is Not Enough

Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai’s video call with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) doesn’t address or alleviate the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) concern about her well-being, the WTA said on Nov.22. Global concerns about the former doubles world number one tennis player mounted following a rare, public sexual assault allegation she made against a retired…


Concerns for Chinese Tennis Player Remain After She Appears in Chinese Media

The Chinese regime attempted to dismiss global concerns about Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai over the weekend, when China’s state-run media released photos and videos of the tennis player. The effort, however, has not convinced those concerned about Peng of her well-being. The 35-year-old Peng, a former tennis double world number one, disappeared from public…


Concerns for Chinese Tennis Player Remain After She Appears in State Media

The Chinese regime attempted to dismiss global concerns about Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai over the weekend, when state-run media released photos and videos of the athlete. The effort, however, hasn’t convinced those concerned about Peng’s whereabouts and well-being. The 35-year-old Peng, who was once ranked No. 1 in doubles by the Women’s Tennis Association…


What ‘Peng Shuai’s Letter’ Reveals of China’s Censorship; Behind the Scenes of the Biden-Xi Meeting

In early November, shocking allegations on tennis star Peng Shuai’s Weibo account were leveled at China’s former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli. Peng has since disappeared. The comments and her Weibo account also rapidly disappeared. World tennis champions Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic have publicly expressed their concern for Peng’s safety and whereabouts. They’ve called on…


Barty Finishes Year as WTA’s No. 1 for 3rd Consecutive Time

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Wimbledon champion Ash Barty finished No. 1 in the WTA singles rankings for the third consecutive season, while Katerina Siniakova topped the doubles rankings for the second time. Barty, a 25-year-old from Australia, joins Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, and Chris Evert as the only women to lead the year-end tennis rankings…