Men’s world No.1 Novak Djokovic has expressed shock over Peng Shuai’s disappearance, the Chinese tennis player who has been missing since accusing a politician of sexual assault.
Peng claimed earlier this month that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli had assaulted her, and hasn’t been heard of since, with details of her allegations wiped from the Chinese internet.
Peng won 23 tour-level doubles titles, including at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014. She was a semifinalist in singles at the US Open in 2014.
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Her accusation was the first against a prominent government official since the #MeToo movement took hold in China in 2018.
Chinese officials have refused to answer questions about the former world number one doubles player. When asked about Peng, Djokovic said the situation is “terrible”.
“I don’t have much information about it, I did hear about it a week ago, and honestly it’s shocking that she’s missing. More so that it’s someone that I’ve seen on the tour in previous years quite a few times,” Djokovic told reporters after winning his ATP Finals opener against Casper Ruud.
“There’s not much more to say than to hope that she’s ok and it’s just terrible… I can imagine how her family feels, you know, that she’s missing.”
Earlier this month Peng wrote in a lengthy social media post that Gaoli, a former vice premier and member of the ruling Communist Party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, had forced her to have sex despite repeated refusals following a round of tennis three years ago.
Her post also said they had sex once seven years ago and she had feelings for him after that.
“Peng Shuai, and all women, deserve to be heard, not censored. Her accusation about the conduct of a former Chinese leader involving a sexual assault must be treated with the utmost seriousness. In all societies, the behavior she alleges that took place needs to be investigated, not condoned or ignored. We commend Peng Shuai for her remarkable courage and strength in coming forward. Women around the world are finding their voices so injustices can be corrected,” WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said in a statement released by the tour on Sunday.
“We expect this issue to be handled properly, meaning the allegations must be investigated fully, fairly, transparently and without censorship,” Simon said.
Those hopes were seemingly ignored this morning when foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, “I have not heard of the issue you raised” when asked about the tennis player, adding “this is not a diplomatic question”.
– with AP
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