Women's tennis tour suspends matches in China after alleged Peng Shuai censorship

The Women's Tennis Association will not hold any matches in China, Steve Simon, WTA's chairman and CEO, said Wednesday. In the statement, Simon accused China of responding to Peng Shuai's accusations of sexual assault by a government official with "censorship, coercion and intimidation."

"When on November 2, 2021, Peng Shuai posted an allegation of sexual assault against a top Chinese government official, the Women's Tennis Association recognized that Peng Shuai's message had to be listened to and taken seriously," said Simon. "The players of the WTA, not to mention women around the world, deserve nothing less."

Simon wrote that her message was subsequently "removed from the internet" and the subject has been "censored in China." The association implored Chinese officials to stop the censorship, prove Peng is "free and able to speak" and conduct a legitimate investigation into her allegations.