WTA continues boycott of China over the Peng Shuai case as no events planned in the region in the latest Tour calendar
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WTA Chief Steve Simon and Peng Shuai
The Women Tennis Association (WTA) has released an updated list of the tournament calendar for the 2022 season, with no events taking place in China. The WTA officials informed last month that they are still working to find a resolution with China over the Peng Shuai issue and would not return to the country this year.
The autumn schedule includes a new WTA-1000 event in Guadalajara, Mexico in October and a WTA-500 event in San Diego, California which will take place earlier in the month. Tunisia will also host a WTA–250 tournament.
Former Chinese doubles player Peng’s safety became a big concern after she posted a message on social media accusing China’s Minister Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault, before deleting it and disappearing from public view. It would be interesting to know the stance of the WTA officials over the scheduling of the tournaments in China in the upcoming seasons this year or the next and how china will be tackling all of it and making their standpoint on the whole situation.
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WTA Officials still concerned about the safety in China
After the Peng Shuai‘s public appearances and meeting with the Olympic Committee and denying all the allegations that were made earlier by her, officials have taken their stance on the current ongoing situation in China.
The tournament schedule also speaks of the WTA’s position in China, as no tournaments are to take place in the country during this year which can be a setback for the organisers and sponsors of the particular events. The Peng Shuai controversy came to light last November and the tour’s officials had their decision to suspend all tournaments in China and Hong Kong while the case of Peng Shuai remains unresolved.
Speaking about the calendar, WTA chairman Steve Simon stated, “The 2022 WTA fall calendar will provide a robust amount of job opportunities for players in a regional calendar flow that will take us through to the end of the season. I am extremely grateful to all of our tournament organizers for their support of women’s tennis and their commitment to staging world-class Hologic WTA Tour events.”
Novak Djokovic also supported the decision of WTA on the safety of players and putting the tournaments on hold where they are not sure about the circumstances and the security of the players. The ATP Tour has however not taken any step and has events organised in China later this year.
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Writwik Sati
(12 Articles Published)