WTA suspends all tournaments in China over Peng concerns

Women's tennis associaltion has decided to suspend all tournaments in China amid what its chairman called "serious doubts" about the safety of Chinese player Peng Shuai, who accused a top Communist Party leader of sexual assault. WTA chair and CEO Steve Simon said the move -- which could cost the Women's Tennis Association hundreds of millions of dollars -- had the "full support" of the tour's board of directors. The WTA had planned 11 events in China this year before Covid-19 forced them to be relocated or cancelled. The 2022 schedule had not yet been set. In 2019, China hosted 10 events with total prize money topping $30 million.

"With the full support of the WTA Board of Directors, I am announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong."

— wta (@WTA) December 1, 2021

Beijing is set to host the Winter Olympics in February amid calls for a diplomatic boycott of the Games over the country's human rights record. "While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe, and not subject to censorship, coercion, and intimidation," Simon said.