Where is Peng Shuai?: Boycott threat as world unites to find missing star

The Women’s Tennis Association has threatened to pull tournaments from China as the game’s biggest names joined the chorus of concern for Peng Shuai.

Peng Shuai has not been heard from for weeks

Serena Williams on Thursday joined the chorus of concern for Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, whose whereabouts have been shrouded in mystery since she alleged a powerful Chinese politician sexually assaulted her.

“I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai,” former world number one Williams wrote on Twitter.

“I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent.” Williams’ tweet was accompanied by a photo of a smiling Peng captioned with #WhereIsPengShuai.

“Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time,” Williams added.

I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai. I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent. Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time. #whereispengshuaipic.twitter.com/GZG3zLTSC6

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) November 18, 2021

Meanwhile, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has threatened to pull tournaments from China unless satisfactory evidence of missing player Peng Shuai’s safety is issued soon.

WTA chief Steve Simon issued an ultimatum to China and threatened to cancel tournaments scheduled to take place in the country if “verifiable proof” of Peng’s safety was not provided soon.

“If at the end of the day we don’t see the appropriate results from this, we would be prepared to take that step and not operate our business in China, if that’s what it came to,” Simon told the New York Times.

“Should we find that what we are asking for cannot happen or will not happen, we are prepared to no longer do business within the region and move forward,” he told TIME during the WTA tour finals in Mexico.

#WhereIsPengShuai is trending across global social platforms.

Where is Peng Shuai? What we know as mystery deepens

An email purporting to have been written by missing tennis star Peng Shuai has been released prompting further concern for her wellbeing almost two weeks after she was last seen.

Pressure has been growing on Chinese authorities to clarify the status of the 35-year-old Peng, a former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion.

Peng alleged on the Twitter-like Weibo earlier this month that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli had “forced” her into sex during a long-term on-off relationship.

It was the first time the #MeToo movement has struck at the top echelons of China’s ruling Communist Party, but the post was swiftly deleted and nothing has been heard from Peng since.

Today’s email, allegedly written by Peng, backtracked on those claims.

“Hello everyone this is Peng Shuai,” the statement read.

“Regarding the recent news released on the official website of the WTA, the content has not been confirmed or verified by myself and it was released without my consent.”

From Chinese state media, “from” Peng Shuai. Deeply dubious. pic.twitter.com/XJkB169VD9

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) November 17, 2021

Reacting to the email, WTA boss Steve Simon said it “only raises my concerns as to her safety and whereabouts.”

“I have a hard time believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email we received,” he said.

“The WTA and the rest of the world need independent and verifiable proof that she is safe,” Simon said.

“I have repeatedly tried to reach her via numerous forms of communications, to no avail.

“Peng Shuai must be allowed to speak freely, without coercion or intimidation from any source. Her allegation of sexual assault must be respect, investigated with full transparency and without censorship.”

. #WhereIsPengShuaipic.twitter.com/51qcyDtzLq

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) November 16, 2021

STARS UNITE FOR PENG

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is among the big names calling for more information about Peng’s whereabouts to be released.

Osaka said that she was in “shock” about the situation.

Her concern follows that of men’s No.1 Novak Djokovic and numerous other players in recent days saying they were deeply worried about her.

The 24-year-old Osaka wrote a short statement on Twitter, where she has 1.1 million followers, accompanied by #WhereIsPengShuai -- a hashtag which has been widely used on social media.

“Censorship is never ok at any cost, I hope Peng Shuai and her family are safe and ok,” the Japanese former world number one wrote.

“I’m in shock of the current situation and I’m sending love and light her way.”

Djokovic, speaking after his ATP Tour Finals match against Casper Ruud on Monday, described the situation as “terrible”.

“Honestly it’s shocking that she’s missing,” said the Serb.

“More so that it’s someone that I’ve seen on the tour in previous years quite a few times.

I hope @WTA continues to show what we stand for as players. We are extremely lucky to be able to do what we do but I hope more people, not just tennis players, shed some light on this deeply concerning situation 🙏 https://t.co/B9TEoeoJ2Y

— Jessie Pegula (@JLPegula) November 17, 2021

Naomi Osaka has called for more information on her colleague.

“There’s not much more to say than to hope that she’s ok and it’s just terrible... I can imagine how her family feels, you know, that she’s missing.” Chris Evert, the 18-time Grand Slam winner, on Sunday became the highest profile current or former female player to join social media expressions of concern that have given rise to the Twitter hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai.

Evert called the situation “very disturbing”.

“I’ve known Peng since she was 14; we should all be concerned; this is serious; where is she? Is she safe? Any information would be appreciated,” Evert tweeted.

The Women’s Tennis Association called Sunday for Peng’s claims to be “investigated fully, f

China has remained quiet about Peng and its national tennis association did not respond to AFP requests for comment.

Asked to respond to the mounting questions, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said: “I have not heard of the issue you raised.” He added that “this is not a diplomatic question” and made no further comment on the fate of the former world number one doubles player.

Details of Peng’s reported accusations, made earlier this month that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her, remain scrubbed from China’s Internet. Searches for their names on key portals come back empty.

Searches for her account on China’s Twitter-like Weibo platform also returned no results, although the account was still accessible via a direct web link.

China’s national tennis association did not respond to AFP requests for comment.