Global Impact: 16 months after Peng Shuai boycott, China welcomes back ATP and WTA
- Global Impact is a weekly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world
- In this issue, we look ahead to the return of professional tennis in China, including a stop in Hong Kong by the WTA tour in October
There is little doubt that tennis, like other sports, needs the financial firepower that the Chinese market brings, not only in terms of fans but sponsorships too, which means the WTA’s boycott was always likely to end.
The fact Peng’s fate for accusing a high-ranking official of sexual assault is still something of a mystery was accepted with a verbal shrug by WTA chief in April when addressing his organisation’s return to China.
Our members believe it’s time to resume the mission in China
“The stance that we took at the time was appropriate,” Steve Simon told The Associated Press. “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. Our members believe it’s time to resume the mission in China.”
Not everyone believes that. Alize Cornet, the French player who was among the first to use the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai, announced on Thursday that she would not be playing during the tour’s Chinese swing, which starts in Guangdong on Monday and finishes in Zhuhai on October 29.
“Staying true to my convictions and careful about my health, I decided that I will not be playing in China this year,” the 33-year-old wrote on social media. “My season will therefore resume in October. See you soon, everybody!”
Of course, Cornet’s absence is not the blow it once was. With her best years on the court behind her, she was knocked out of the US Open singles and women’s doubles in the first round, and last week was stopped in the semi-final of a WTA 125 event in Bari where she was the first seed.