Where is Peng Shuai? Australian Open slammed for censoring fans as players hit back

To be silent is to be complicit, as the saying goes. There’s not enough being said by Tennis Australia about the scandals overshadowing the Aus Open. What are they hiding in their ivory tower?

The house that Tennis Australia built is in real danger of becoming an ivory tower.

Hot on the heels of the Novak Djokovic debacle, the silencing of fans showing messages of support for Chinese player Peng Shuai shows Craig Tiley and his board have once again failed to read the room.

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The Australian Open became the tournament it is because officials listened and looked.

Tiley was largely responsible for dragging the opening grand slam of the year into the modern ages, fixing once ailing prize money and facilities to make them the best in the world.

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Tennis Australia and Craig Tiley have failed to read the room on the Peng Shuai protests.

Tennis Australia listened to what the players wanted – all the players – and the Open introduced measures that have been copied around the world to ensure Australia was in no danger of losing its treasured grand slam tournament.

But much of what has gone on at Melbourne Park this year shows Tiley and Tennis Australia have become cut off from reality.

It’s either stunning arrogance or startling ignorance – either way, it needs to change.

There are shining high points. Monday’s Pride day at the tournament was another example of the Australian Open leading the way.

But Open officials’ treatment of fans attempting to highlight issues around Peng Shuai’s safety has raised the ire of both players and supporters around the world.

Security ordered the woman to remove a shirt supporting Peng Shuai. Image: Twitter

When greats of the game such as Martina Navratilova call the actions of Tennis Australia and the Open “cowardly”, it’s an international embarrassment for the tournament and its organisers.

The WTA and its chairman Steve Simon have been fearless leaders in calling for more information on Peng’s whereabouts and safety.

By contrast, Tiley and Tennis Australia have been silent, with the tournament accused of bowing to Chinese sponsors instead of looking out for the interests of a player who has continually supported its event.

Tiley has showed better footwork than most of the men in the main draw in dodging questions over the past three weeks.

Both on Peng and Novak Djokovic and the part Tennis Australia played in attempting to facilitate the world no.1’s entry into the country.

Security ordered this woman to remove a shirt supporting Peng Shuai. Image: Twitter

TA’s efforts to get Djokovic to the starting line smack of the treatment of a favourite son and it hasn’t gone down well.

Not with other players, or the fans.

Tiley made it clear last week he would not fall on his sword over the Djokovic fiasco, bullishly declaring he had no intention of resigning despite the incident becoming an embarrassing international incident.

What should have been clear was the level of fury within both the playing ranks and the general community at the situation.

Open officials’ treatment of fans attempting to highlight issues around Peng Shuai’s safety has only raised the stakes.

Internationally, this year’s Open is becoming an embarrassment.

The efforts of players on court can’t be questioned.

But those running the show are living in a bubble – and it’s time it was popped

Bowing to China: Players slam Aus Open censorship

The Australian Open has been accused of bowing to corporate China.

That’s the reason behind them banning messages of support for Peng Shuai, according to players who are disgusted by the move.

French player Nicolas Mahut and former grand slam champion Martina Navratilova have slammed Tennis Australia’s decision to gag spectators from carrying messages of support for the Chinese player whose disappearance made headlines around the world in 2021.

On Saturday, video emerged showing two spectators approached by security and told to remove clothing that featured a message supporting Shuai amid ongoing concerns for her welfare.

The video sparked fury among fans and the playing group after TA claimed the shirts and banners breached their rule of “no political messaging”.

Mahut accused organisers of bowing to their sponsors and calling their stance cowardly while Navratilova dismissed it as pathetic.

“What’s going on!?” Mahut posted on social media.

A fan holds a Peng Shuai banner at Melbourne Park.

“What lack of courage! What if you did not have Chinese sponsors #1573.”

Martina Navratilova added her voice to those slamming the censorship and called for more to be done for Peng.

“Sport has always been on the forefront of social issues, now we are going backwards,” Navratilova said on Tennis TV.

“We have had the issue with Peng Shuai. There were fans at the tennis, not even on a main court. They had Where Is Peng Shuai on their T-shirt and they were told to cover it up.

“Tennis Australia issued the proclamation that it just isn’t acceptable. I find that really, really cowardly. This is not a political statement, this is a human rights statement.

“Chances are Peng Shuai could have been playing here, but couldn’t get out of the country? I think they (TA) are wrong on this.”

Angst continues to grow against the move by TA, and Senator James Paterson also criticised the decision.

He urged more people to join the movement and said people should be free to express their views.

“Whether intentionally or not, Tennis Australia is aiding the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to undermine liberal democracies by banning “Where is Peng Shuai?” T-shirts at the Australian Open,” he told the Herald Sun.

Players want answers as to the safety of Peng Shuai. Picture: AFP Images

“Anyone attending the upcoming finals should feel free to make their concerns publicly known. It will be an important test for Tennis Australia. If Peng’s safety remains their primary concern, then they must permit tennis spectators and athletes to publicly express these shared concerns at the Open, even on a T-shirt.”

Peng — a two-time major champion in doubles — made allegations on social media against China’s former vice-premier, Zhang Gaoli, last year.

Despite numerous videos purporting to show her out in public being released by Chinese state media, there have been serious concerns for her wellbeing from across the tennis and wider sporting world ever since.

While the Novak Djokovic overshadowed anything else coming into the opening slam of the year, the censoring of fans has backfired on TA with the #WhereIsPengShai movement now making global headlines again.

Peng’s peers have not forgotten her this tournament with Alize Cornet, Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios all highlighting the importance of keeping the conversation going and using their platforms to help.

TA RELEASES STATEMENT

In response to ongoing criticism, on Monday night TA released a statement standing its ground.

“We understand and appreciate that people have strongly held personal and political views on a range of issues,” the statement read.

“Peng Shuai’s safety is our primary concern. We continue to work with the WTA and the global tennis community to do everything we can to ensure her wellbeing.

“Our work is ongoing and through the appropriate channels. Today we have again reiterated our strong support to the WTA and we extend this to all the players.

“To ensure that the Australian Open remains a welcoming, safe and inclusive event for everyone, we have a longstanding policy of not allowing banners, signs or clothing that are commercial or political.

“On this occasion, the security guard was simply enforcing this policy and while we have reviewed this and are happy to welcome the patron back to Melbourne Park, the policy will continue to be applied in relation to any items that compromise the safety and comfort of AO fans.”

DAVENPORT BACKS NAVRATILOVA’S STANCE

Lindsay Davenport echoed Navratilova’s sentiments.

“It’s been heartbreaking to see what has happened. The WTA had such strong language when this all went down and unfortunately the story seems to be getting quiet.

Amid criticism of TA’s leadership, quarter-finalist in Melbourne Madison Keys voiced her support for WTA CEO Steve Simon for the strength he showed in the political furore.

As concern for Peng peaked towards the end of last year, Simon announced the immediate suspension of all tournaments in China, including Hong Kong.

“I think the biggest

concern is that Peng Shuai is safe,” Keys said.

“I know that Steve has had some incredibly difficult decisions

to make.

“He’s our (WTA) CEO. I think his first concern every single day

is all of his players’ safety.

“I, as one of those players, really support him and appreciate that’s what his stance is.”

In announcing the suspension of the WTA events in China, Simon

said Peng’s “message had to be listened to and taken seriously”.

“The players of the WTA, not to mention women around the world, deserve nothing less,” Simon said.

Peng Shuai of China made accusations against the Chinese government last year

“I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault.

“Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022.

“The WTA will do everything possible to protect its players.”

Peng’s fellow Chinese tennis players competing at the Australian Open had little to say on the issue when asked to comment on the situation.

“I don’t know,” Yang Zhaoxuan said.

Xu Yifan added: “We didn’t really focus on it. We just tried to focus on our tennis most of the time.”.

Originally published as Where is Peng Shuai? Australian Open slammed for censoring fans as players hit back