"Have lowered their heads in front of China, shameful" - Tennis fans lament WTA's decision to resume events despite uncertainty over Peng Shuai

Tennis fans have expressed their views regarding the WTA tour's return to China after four years, amidst the unresolved issues surrounding Peng Shuai.Tennis tournaments in China were initially discontinued due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. But in late 2021, the WTA announced its decision to boycott the events held in the country, owing to Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai’s sexual abuse allegations and the rising questions over her alleged disappearance.However, on Thursday, April 13, WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon announced in a statement that the women’s tournaments will return to China in September 2023, despite the lack of cooperation regarding the investigation around Peng Shuai.“The stance that we took at the time was appropriate. And we stand by that. But 16 months into this, we’re convinced that our requests will not be met. And to continue with the same strategy doesn’t make sense. So we needed to look at a different approach,” Steve Simon said.&quot;With this, our members believe it’s time to resume the mission in China, where we believe we can continue to make a positive difference, as we have for the last 20 years, while at the same time, making sure that Peng Shuai is not forgotten. By returning, hopefully more progress can be made,&quot; he added.The statement did not sit well with most tennis fans who criticized the WTA for not staying true to its word and prioritizing financial profits over moral standing.“Another way of saying ‘…based on the realisation that the tour’s demands concerning Peng were not going to be met’ is ‘we have climbed down because we are weak, want the money and have no moral standing’. Leadership at its worse,” one individual said.Jon Terry@jon_p_terryAnother way of saying “…based on the realisation that the tour’s demands concerning Peng were not going to be met” is “we have climbed down because we are weak, want the money and have no moral standing”. Leadership at its worse. @christophclarey @nytimes @WTA twitter.com/christophclare…Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸@christophclareyIn our interview for the Times, WTA chief Steve Simon said the return to China was a difficult and complex decision but based on the realization that the tour's demands concerning Peng were not going to be met nytimes.com/2023/04/13/spo…210In our interview for the Times, WTA chief Steve Simon said the return to China was a difficult and complex decision but based on the realization that the tour's demands concerning Peng were not going to be met nytimes.com/2023/04/13/spo… https://t.co/3YFZYcMV6nAnother way of saying “…based on the realisation that the tour’s demands concerning Peng were not going to be met” is “we have climbed down because we are weak, want the money and have no moral standing”. Leadership at its worse. @christophclarey @nytimes @WTA twitter.com/christophclare…Several others blasted the organization for its seemingly superficial stance. One fan alleged that the WTA merely piggybacked on the pre-existing cancelation of tournaments in China in place due to COVID-19 restrictions.“It gets so clear now that their Peng campaign was pure opportunism, because already due to covid they were not going to be able to host tournaments in China. Had Peng not disappeared, no tournaments would've been played anyway. Just a chance to make a strong impression,” one person said.JI (Juan Ignacio)@juanignacio_acIt gets so clear now that their Peng campaign was pure opportunism, because already due to covid they were not going to be able to host tournaments in China. Had Peng not disappeared, no tournaments would've been played anyway. Just a chance to make a strong impression.282It gets so clear now that their Peng campaign was pure opportunism, because already due to covid they were not going to be able to host tournaments in China. Had Peng not disappeared, no tournaments would've been played anyway. Just a chance to make a strong impression.Here are a few more reactions from tennis fans:Anne Lenoir@annegc1@BenRothenberg WTA made a stand when… there were no tournament on China. They have retreated as soon as they could organize one31@BenRothenberg WTA made a stand when… there were no tournament on China. They have retreated as soon as they could organize oneNeil@spadeloads@BenRothenberg They’ve backtracked completely and it’s made the whole thing pointless in the first place.23@BenRothenberg They’ve backtracked completely and it’s made the whole thing pointless in the first place.Goggles Paisano@ehannan73@BenRothenberg what good is taking a stand if you just back down from it? That's nothing to be impressed about. If you truly believe in something, you don't just cave.18@BenRothenberg what good is taking a stand if you just back down from it? That's nothing to be impressed about. If you truly believe in something, you don't just cave.Khurram ali@Khurram80496528@juanignacio_ac Everyone knows it was an empty threat WTA is a small organization in front of whole Chinese govt.They need money that's true but also they'll be bankrupt if they didn't go there due to major law suit they just can't afford it simple And again yes it was a hollow threat@juanignacio_ac Everyone knows it was an empty threat WTA is a small organization in front of whole Chinese govt.They need money that's true but also they'll be bankrupt if they didn't go there due to major law suit they just can't afford it simple And again yes it was a hollow threatGill Gross 🧋@Gill_GrossPeng Shuai situation remains dark.The WTA's stance was admirable, but it was never going to be easy to maintain long-term for financial reasons. A tough break that Covid restrictions prevented a meaningful holdout in the immediacy of the incident.432Peng Shuai situation remains dark.The WTA's stance was admirable, but it was never going to be easy to maintain long-term for financial reasons. A tough break that Covid restrictions prevented a meaningful holdout in the immediacy of the incident.Nicholas DiNubile MD@drnickUSA@christophclarey Disappointing news. Money talks, weakness walks (limps).1@christophclarey Disappointing news. Money talks, weakness walks (limps).Bagels and Breadsticks 6061@Anthony606061@christophclarey @TennisUpdates23 Difficult and complex? Sounds like it was rather simple: Follow the money.@christophclarey @TennisUpdates23 Difficult and complex? Sounds like it was rather simple: Follow the money.Annie-Jean@Rellimj@christophclarey @WTA will be back in Russia before you know it. 🙄#hypocrites5@christophclarey @WTA will be back in Russia before you know it. 🙄#hypocritesJohnA@PerfectTPuglet@christophclarey Tennis remains all about the unresolved questions. Peng being just one case... Start stuff. Never finish it@christophclarey Tennis remains all about the unresolved questions. Peng being just one case... Start stuff. Never finish itSmithy@Arthus92@christophclarey They didn't listen, so we come back.Fuck logic.4@christophclarey They didn't listen, so we come back.Fuck logic.腊圣@Xinnep0oh@christophclarey The mee to movement, lgbtq, feminism, environmentalism, etc., which are rampant in western society, have all lowered their heads in front of China, shameful@christophclarey The mee to movement, lgbtq, feminism, environmentalism, etc., which are rampant in western society, have all lowered their heads in front of China, shamefulTennis Inside Out@TennisInsideOut&quot;It wasn't working, so I guess we'll give in and pretend like nothing happened.&quot; twitter.com/christophclare…Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸@christophclareyIn our interview for the Times, WTA chief Steve Simon said the return to China was a difficult and complex decision but based on the realization that the tour's demands concerning Peng were not going to be met nytimes.com/2023/04/13/spo…210In our interview for the Times, WTA chief Steve Simon said the return to China was a difficult and complex decision but based on the realization that the tour's demands concerning Peng were not going to be met nytimes.com/2023/04/13/spo… https://t.co/3YFZYcMV6n&quot;It wasn't working, so I guess we'll give in and pretend like nothing happened.&quot; twitter.com/christophclare…Mark Dreyer@DreyerChinaThis is beyond idiotic. The requests the WTA put forth were never, ever going to be met by China. So what exactly has the stategy been for the past 16 months? Is anyone actually driving the bus? twitter.com/christophclare…Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸@christophclareyIn our interview for the Times, WTA chief Steve Simon said the return to China was a difficult and complex decision but based on the realization that the tour's demands concerning Peng were not going to be met nytimes.com/2023/04/13/spo…210In our interview for the Times, WTA chief Steve Simon said the return to China was a difficult and complex decision but based on the realization that the tour's demands concerning Peng were not going to be met nytimes.com/2023/04/13/spo… https://t.co/3YFZYcMV6nThis is beyond idiotic. The requests the WTA put forth were never, ever going to be met by China. So what exactly has the stategy been for the past 16 months? Is anyone actually driving the bus? twitter.com/christophclare…Jannik's 2023 peak year support team@sinfoerubelixOUT: WTA and ATP backboneIN: MoneyNext: dismissing all allegations on misbehaviour by WTA coaches twitter.com/christophclare…Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸@christophclareyIn our interview for the Times, WTA chief Steve Simon said the return to China was a difficult and complex decision but based on the realization that the tour's demands concerning Peng were not going to be met nytimes.com/2023/04/13/spo…410In our interview for the Times, WTA chief Steve Simon said the return to China was a difficult and complex decision but based on the realization that the tour's demands concerning Peng were not going to be met nytimes.com/2023/04/13/spo… https://t.co/3YFZYcMV6nOUT: WTA and ATP backboneIN: MoneyNext: dismissing all allegations on misbehaviour by WTA coaches twitter.com/christophclare…The 2022 WTA Finals witnessed an underwhelming turnup in Fort Worth, TexasIga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka at 2022 year-end Finals in Fort Worth, TexasDue to the cancelation of numerous tennis tournaments in China, the WTA faced the tough task of reorganizing its calendar and conducting discontinued tournaments elsewhere.Notably, the 10-year contract to organize the year-end championships in Shenzhen, starting in 2019, did not pan out as planned. While the venue’s inaugural edition went off without a hitch and witnessed a great response, the following years were laden with cancelations due to COVID-19 restrictions and the Peng Shuai-related boycotts.The WTA Finals thus experimented with venues in 2021 and 2022. While its Guadalajara location in 2021 was a successful one, the tournament’s most recent venue in Fort Worth, Texas saw an underwhelming turn-up, further prompting the organization to resume its events in China.The 2023 year-end Finals are now expected to be held in Shenzhen as part of the initial 10-year contract.

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