Do You Know Where Professional Chinese Tennis Star Peng Shuai is?
Peng Shuai is a 35-year-old female Chinese professional tennis player that has not been seen in public for weeks and her whereabouts have not been publicly disclosed.
Shuai is on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour. The WTA is the global leader in women’s professional sports. It was founded by Billie Jean King in 1973, and consists of more than 1,650 players representing about 85 nations, all competing to earn WTA rankings points and tournament titles. The WTA Tour comprises over 50 events and four Grand Slam titles, spanning six continents and about 30 countries.
Shuai is ranked 311th as a singles player and 193rd for doubles. In 2014, she made history by being the first Chinese player ever to be ranked number one in doubles. Shuai is a three-time Olympian, two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, and has won 25 tour titles over the course of her career. She and her partner, Hsieh Su-Wei, won their two Grand Slam doubles titles at Wimbledon in 2013 and the 2014 French Open. They defeated Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua during their 2013 Wimbledon run and at the 2014 French Open final, they defeated Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci.
However, her success took a quick turn. On Nov. 2, 2021 Shuai accused Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault in a post she wrote on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform. Gaoli is a former vice-premier under Xi Jinping. After posting the allegation Shuai has not been seen in public.
China’s internet is heavily monitored and censored. Shuai’s post was said to have been taken down roughly half an hour after she had posted it. Keyword searches for “tennis,” “Peng Shuai,” and “Zhang Gaoli” were blocked for a period of time, as well. The Chinese government, which is speaking on her behalf, is claiming that she is resting at home.
Since her disappearance, Shuai has received support from several professional tennis stars including Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal. The United States and The United Nations have also requested proof of her whereabouts.
Before the Weibo post, Gaoli, who is now 75-years old, invited her to play tennis with him and his wife. Shuai said that the three of them went to Gaoli’s home afterward and that he coerced her into having sex with him. Gaoli is now a retired politician who has not responded to these claims. A spokesperson for Beijing’s foreign ministry denied all knowledge of the allegation.
On Nov. 17, 2021 an official news media organization called China Global Television Network, CGTN, which is under the control of the Chinese Communist Party’s communications department tweeted a photo of a message from Peng to Steve Simon. Simon is the head of the WTA. Since then, there have been limited photos and videos of Shuai out in public. The most recent photos and videos that are posted were done by China’s state-affiliated media. Why would China post photos and videos on behalf of one of its citizens? Couldn’t Shuai post these on her own?
Earlier in Dec. 2021, the International Tennis Federation, ITF, which is the governing body of world tennis, wheelchair tennis, and beach tennis has reportedly told tennis players that tournaments in China have been removed for 2022. The ITF’s responsibilities include maintaining and enforcing rules, regulating international team competitions, and promoting the game of tennis. Steve Simon, who is the WTA CEO and Chairman, has also made similar announcements. They have stated that all women’s tour events in China would be suspended effective immediately.
As of Dec. 17, 2021, more than six weeks after her initial post, Shuai has not been on social media nor has she reached out to Simon or any other tennis player. The Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. still has not responded to questions or inquiries about Shaui.
On Dec. 19, 2021 Shuai was interviewed and quoted saying this has all been a misunderstanding.
“First and foremost, I must emphasize something. I have never said or written about anyone sexually assaulting me. That’s a very important point,” Shuai told Lianhe Zaobao, a Singapore based Chinese language newspaper.
She called this a “private matter” and also stated that, “people have many misunderstandings,” regarding her original post. These most recent statements are coming from an opposite stance to her original accusation. At the time of her sexual assault, a twenty-something Shaui never gave consent to intercourse from a mid-60’s Zhang. However, now she is saying she later willingly entered into an affair with Zhang, who is married.
There are a lot of questions and very few answers, with a lot of contradicting statements. The only thing people will agree on is the importance of Shuai's safety and whereabouts during all this time.