In an interview, the Chinese tennis player recoils. But her denial sounds not very credible – the affair remains highly opaque even after the most recent turn.
Suddenly no longer wants to hear about allegations of rape: the retired Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai.
The palmarès of Peng Shuai is manageable. In 20 years on the WTA Tour, the tennis player won two singles titles. Both tournaments took place in China. The real career highlight was her semi-final qualification in 2014 at the US Open. Her best ranking in singles was 14th. In doubles she was number 1 for a while.
But last November, the Chinese temporarily became a well-known personality around the world. She disappeared from the scene for weeks after accusing former Chinese Vice Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault. An international storm of protest broke out. Opponents like Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka called for the matter to be clarified on Twitter. In an act of unprecedented consistency, the WTA suspended all business relations with China. 11 tournaments are affected, including the $14 million WTA Finals in Shenzhen.
Peng Shuai : « Ma vie est comme elle doit être : rien de special »
La joueuse de tennis s’exprime pour la première fois dans un media international et independent depuis sa réapparition publique et le tourbillon qui a accompagné son message du 2 novembre. https://t.co/0mPXJBcY3s pic.twitter.com/rZbRlZxN8a
— L’ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) February 6, 2022
Many question marks remain
Now Peng Shuai said in an interview with the French sports newspaper “L’Équipe” that it was all a big misunderstanding. She is grateful for the sympathy. “But I never said anyone raped me.” She herself deleted the entry shortly after publication.
It is the latest and probably final turn of an affair that leaves many questions unanswered. What prompted Peng Shuai to tweet that? After that, why didn’t she respond to attempts by WTA boss Steve Simon to get in touch with her? Where has she been in the past two months or so? And above all: how seriously should you take your denials?
The interview with the French sports newspaper was mediated by the Chinese Olympic Committee and took place in the Beijing hotel where the IOC resides during the Winter Games. The tennis player was accompanied by an official. She spoke only in Chinese. The questions had to be submitted in writing beforehand. And the conversation was only allowed on the condition that the interview would be published without further comment.
The content of the interview differed little from that published at the end of last year on the website of the Chinese newspaper “Lianhe Zaobao”. Peng Shuai had previously met with IOC President Thomas Bach and former athletes’ spokeswoman Kirsty Coventry for dinner. After that, she watched the mixed curling match between China and Norway. The IOC then published a short statement in which the allegations of sexual assault, which had been the actual reason for the meeting, were not mentioned at all.
How is the WTA reacting?
The WTA did not react to the latest development until Monday evening, Swiss time. The affair remains opaque, and Peng Shuai’s denials don’t sound very credible. There is speculation in China that it could have been instrumental in a power struggle between rival wings of the party. The accused Zhang Gaoli belongs to the Shanghai wing that is critical of the leadership around President Xi Jinping.
The Chinese leadership is apparently now hoping to have ended the affair with Peng Shuai’s renewed denial. At the same time, the 36-year-old also announced her retirement from tennis to “L’Équipe”.