State media release attributed to Peng raises WTA concerns

BEIJING (AP) — The caput of the women’s nonrecreational tennis circuit is questioning the legitimacy of a retraction Chinese authorities media says was from a Grand Slam doubles champion who has accused a erstwhile apical authorities authoritative of intersexual assault.

WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said that a connection attributed to Peng Shuai “only raises my concerns arsenic to her information and whereabouts.”

Peng is simply a 35-year-old from China and a erstwhile No. 1-ranked subordinate successful women’s doubles.

She won titles astatine Wimbledon successful 2013 and the French Open successful 2014.

She wrote successful a lengthy societal media station earlier this period that a erstwhile vice premier had forced her to person enactment contempt repeated refusals.

Since going public, Peng has not been seen successful public. China has besides blocked the communicative from the net successful the country.

Several high-profile tennis players person spoken retired astir Peng's safety.

In a connection connected Twitter, Naomi Osaka said, "Censorship is ne'er good astatine immoderate cost," Osaka said. "I anticipation Peng Shuai and her household are harmless and ok."

On Nov. 14, tennis icon Billie Jean King said, "Hoping that Peng Shuai is recovered harmless and that her accusations are afloat investigated."