The return of WTA tournaments to China in 2023 will hinge on a decision to the Peng Shuai challenge, with the governing physique of the ladies’s sport telling Reuters it had nonetheless not met the Chinese language former doubles world No 1 personally.
Peng had accused Chinese language former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault in 2021 in a put up on social media that was quickly faraway from the nation’s web. She later denied having made the accusation.
Peng’s put up precipitated a global outcry over her security and led the WTA to droop tournaments in China – a call anticipated to price the ladies’s tour tons of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in broadcasting and sponsorship.
A provisional 2023 match calendar launched late final yr listed the WTA’s schedule as much as September, however there was no readability on occasions to be held in China.
“There has not been any change within the WTA place on a return to China and we’ve got solely confirmed our 2023 calendar by way of to the US Open,” the WTA stated in an announcement.
“A return to the area would require a decision to the Peng scenario through which she took a daring step in publicly coming forth with the accusation that she was sexually assaulted by a senior Chinese language authorities chief.
“As we might do with any of our gamers globally, we’ve got known as for a proper investigation into the allegations by the suitable authorities and a chance for the WTA to satisfy with Peng – privately – to debate her scenario.”
The WTA stated it had obtained affirmation Peng was protected and comfy however had been but to satisfy together with her personally.
“We proceed to carry agency on our place and our ideas stay with Peng,” the assertion added. “The WTA continues to work in direction of a decision.
“Whereas we’ve got all the time indicated we’re hopeful we can be able to once more function WTA occasions within the area, we is not going to compromise our founding rules so as to take action.”
In July final yr, males’s governing physique ATP had cancelled its occasions in China because of the Covid-19 disaster within the nation.
