Australian Open 2023: Tennis Australia lashed for ignoring Peng Shuai issue
Tennis Australia has been torn to shreds for completely ignoring Peng Shuai’s plight as Human Rights researchers reveal fresh concerns for the Chinese tennis star.
A senior Human Rights Watch researcher has called on Tennis Australia to use its grand slam spotlight to speak up for the “not free” Peng Shuai.
Peng, once ranked No.14 in the world, was widely reported to have vanished in November 2021 after accusing retired Chinese Communist Party vice-premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault in a social media post.
Peng made controlled appearances in 2022 following the ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ movement and has since denied making the allegations.
The Women’s Tennis Association, which suspended all events in China, says it is confident Peng is “safe and comfortable” but admits it is yet to make progress on its bid to meet with her in private – its ultimatum for returning to the lucrative market.
Speaking from New York, Human Rights Watch senior China researcher Yaqiu Wang said Peng’s recent appearances were forced and that TA should be using the Australian Open limelight to call for her freedom.
“Peng not only has lost her freedom, but has been repeatedly forced to make public appearances during which she has to act like she is happy and free,” Ms Wang said.
“Many prominent women, including athletes around the world have told their ‘MeToo’ (sexual assault campaign) story, but few are paying the price Peng is paying.
“Tennis Australia should follow the example of WTA and speak up for Peng Shuai, and call for her true freedom.
“Peng Shuai is not free, because the political environment in China dictates that anyone who has levelled such an allegation against such a high-level official cannot be truly free.”
TA’s promotion of same-sex pride, Indigenous celebration and disability inclusiveness is ubiquitous at the Australian Open, but its relationship with Peng Shuai activism has been rocky.
Last year, tournament security tried to ban activists from wearing ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ T-shirts in a policy move that was reversed following widespread backlash.
Compounding matters for TA is that one of its major sponsors, Luzhou Laojiao, is a Chinese distillery company. One of the courts at the Australian Open is named 1573 in a nod to the year the company was established.
In a statement to News Corp on Tuesday night, Tennis Australia said: The wellbeing and safety of Peng Shuai is a priority and we continue to work closely with the Women’s Tennis Association which represents the female players.
“Any suggestion Tennis Australia has been silenced on human rights, or any other issue, by anyone seeking to influence our affairs is categorically false.”
Asked on Tuesday about whether the lucrative sponsorship posed a conflict of interest amid calls to advocate for Peng, TA gave no response. The contract expires in June.
A WTA official said the governing body was maintaining its hardball stance on returning to China despite reports it would again host tournaments there at the end of this season.
“We have called for a formal investigation into the allegations,” the WTA said.
“We have received confirmation that Peng is safe and comfortable, but we have not yet met with her personally.
“We continue to hold firm on our position and our thoughts remain with Peng Shuai and the WTA continues to work towards a resolution.
“While we have always indicated we are hopeful we will be in a position to again operate WTA events in the region, we will not compromise our founding principles in order to do so.”
Chinese player Qinwen Zhang was asked “Where is Peng Shuai” by an activist courtside earlier in the tournament, responding quietly “I don’t know”.
Drew Pavlou, an anti-CCP Australian activist, printed new ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ T-shirts for this year’s tournament, which depict Chinese President Xi Jinping with ‘dictator’ over his head.
The T-shirts have not yet been seen at Melbourne Park.
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