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As if nothing had happened: After a two-year absence, the women’s tennis tour is holding tournaments in China again.
Legend: Still no clarity The case surrounding Peng Shuai was never solved – also because China didn’t want it. Reuters/Edgar Su
It’s December 1, 2021, and the WTA women’s tennis association is basking in the spotlight. “I don’t see how I can in good conscience ask my players to take part in tournaments in China if Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate openly,” said Steve Simon, CEO of the WTA, loudly and announced the suspension of all tournaments China.
It would almost have been better if the WTA had never taken a position at all.
There was a lot of praise around the world for this. Less than two years later, this conscience is no longer an obstacle. At the beginning of November 2021, the then 35-year-old Peng, former number 1 in doubles and 2014 US Open semi-finalist in singles, made harsh allegations against former Chinese Vice Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli in a statement.
She was forced into a sexual relationship by the influential ex-politician. A little later the post disappeared, and Peng himself also disappeared from the scene.
Suspension without consequences
This was followed by some photos and videos of the Chinese tennis player in domestic publications, which were presumably not entirely voluntarily taken, as well as an alleged email from Peng to the WTA. However, she expressed doubts about their authenticity. That’s why Simon announced the WTA’s withdrawal from China.
A strong signal that did not have a major impact at the time because China was isolating itself due to the corona pandemic and was not holding any international sporting events apart from the 2022 Winter Olympics.
China does not allow an independent investigation
These have been possible again since this year, and the WTA is returning to the lucrative market, although – as it admits – there are “no signs” that the situation has changed. In other words: China did not allow an independent investigation into Peng’s allegations and the WTA had no opportunity to speak privately with the player.
There is no leadership among tennis players when it comes to questions of ethics. Today almost no one takes a position on such questions anymore.
They came to the conclusion that they would not achieve their goals and did not want the players to have to pay the price. You don’t want to miss out on the money from China now that it’s flowing again. Guangzhou, where the Swiss Viktorija Golubic was also in action, is starting this week. Six more WTA tournaments will follow in the coming weeks, including Beijing, one of the WTA’s 5 largest and mandatory events.
“Complete surrender”
“Our point of view is more important than business,” Simon from the WTA had originally said. Now it is a “complete surrender,” says China-based sports analyst Mark Dreyer to the French news agency AFP firmly. “It would almost have been better if they had never taken a position at all.”
In the end, the income generated by women’s tennis in China is “simply too important,” explains Lionel Maltese, organizer of the ATP tournament in Marseille. There was never any intention on the part of the men’s tour to withdraw from the “Middle Kingdom”. “There is no leadership among tennis players when it comes to questions of ethics,” criticizes Maltese. “Today almost no one takes a position on such questions anymore.”
2023-09-19 15:09:00
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