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There will be no more tennis tournaments in China until further notice. The decision, unprecedented, was taken by the boss of the WTA, the professional women’s circuit. The sports body says it has serious doubts about the freedom of movement of athlete Peng Shuai, who accused the former Chinese vice premier of having violated her.
“It was a real thunderclap in the world of tennis, and a courageous decision by the WTA, the tennis association for professional women players. The WTA which therefore cancels all its sporting events, all its tournaments in China and Hong Kong until further notice “, says journalist Arnauld Miguet. The decision is daring, “because half of the WTA’s income comes from China”, he specifies.
The Peng Shuai affair is therefore far from over. The 35-year-old tennis player, former world number one in doubles, accused a former Chinese vice premier of sexual assault on social media. “She had appeared on November 21 during a video conference with the boss of the Olympic committee, but for the WTA it is proof of the life but not of the freedom of the tennis player”, adds Arnauld Miguet, before concluding: “The institution therefore continues to” stand up and put pressure on the Chinese authorities. ”