: The Head of Women’s Tennis On His Fight for a Chinese Star Who’s Been Missing Since Her Sexual Assault Claim #WorldNEWS Steve Simon, the CEO and chairman of the Womens Tennis Association (WTA),

The Head of Women’s Tennis On His Fight for a Chinese Star Who’s Been Missing Since Her Sexual Assault Claim #WorldNEWS
Steve Simon, the CEO and chairman of the Womens Tennis Association (WTA), says hes tried to speak directly with Peng Shuai, the tennis pro from China whos has hasnt been seen or heard from since she accused former vice premier of China, Zhang Gaoli, of sexual assault on Nov. 2. He has asked sources at the Chinese Tennis Association to connect him with Shuai, a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion who in 2011 was ranked as high as No. 14 in the world in singles. The WTA has reached out directly to Peng, 35. Thus far, these efforts have proved fruitless.
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We have worked every method available to us, says Simon. Voice, digital, tweeting. WeChat. WhatsApp. Text. There are plenty of different messaging things we all use and are all able to communicate with. And none of those have produced a result as of this point.
According to Simon, Chinese Tennis Association sources have assured Simon that Peng is safe, and not under any physical threat, in Beijing. But Simon would like to hear this account from Peng herself. I will remain worried until I am able to speak with her, or she speaks with somebody in our organization, whomever shes comfortable with, says Simon. So that we can be assured that shes OK and where shes at. And that she knows were here to support her in any way that we can. Thats our number one priority. The other things are secondary.
After calling for an official investigation, Simon has threatened to move all WTA tournaments—altogether worth billions of dollars in business to the WTA, China, and other stakeholders—out of China if the countrys governing bodies dont comply.
A tennis stars accusation
The WTA should be basking in the glow of the its season-ending event, the WTA Finals, which is taking place in Guadalajara, Mexico after officials moved the event from Shenzhen, China due to COVID-19. Instead Simon—as well as many fans and players—are preoccupied with the safety of Peng, whose account of her alleged assault was deleted from Weibo, Chinas Twitter-like platform, after 30 minutes.
In her post, Peng admitted that she has no evidence beyond her own word to prove her accusations outright, but called her experience with Zhang Gaoli very real. When Agence France-Press inquired about the allegations, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said: I have not heard of the issue you raised, and added that this is not a diplomatic question.
Simon, the WTA CEO, tells TIME in an interview from Guadalajara that he senses Peng is telling the truth. Its pretty hard for me to believe that an individual who has experienced that and comes from a country and an environment in which she does is going to come forth with those allegations, and them not be true, he says.