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Peng Shuai (2016 in Beijing): For years she was one of the best doubles players in the world
Photo: Wu Hong / dpa
An alleged email from the missing Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai raised more questions than answers at the international women's tennis organization WTA.
Chinese state media had quoted a message from the 35-year-old to the WTA boss on Wednesday.
The reports about her person were wrong, it read among other things.
She is fine.
Simon reacted to the development with skepticism. “The statement on Peng Shuai released by Chinese state media today only adds to my concerns about her safety and whereabouts. Peng Shuai must be allowed to speak freely, without coercion or intimidation, ”he said in the evening.
On November 2, Peng Shuai published a post on the Chinese short message platform Weibo, in which she accused the former Vice President of China, Zhang Gaoli, of rape.
The high-ranking representative of the Communist Party, a member of the Politburo between 2012 and 2017 and thus one of the most powerful men in the country, forced Peng to have sex against her will.
It is the first case in which a prominent politician has been caught in the crossfire since the #MeToo movement entered China in 2018.
Less than half an hour after publication, the entry on the social network was deleted.
Since then there has been no trace of Peng.
Your Weibo account is no longer available.
Neither your name nor #MeToo can be searched on the Chinese Internet.
On Wednesday, however, the Chinese media published an email allegedly from Peng Shuai.
“I'm neither missing nor not sure.
I only rest at home, everything is fine, «it says.
Fans, players and former tennis professionals launched an online search call under the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai.
"The allegations are very worrying," tweeted 18-time Grand Slam winner Chris Evert.
“I've known Peng since she was 14 years old.
We should all be concerned, this is serious.
Where is she?
Is it safe?
We would be grateful for any information. "
Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka wrote on Twitter: “I am shocked by the current situation.
Censorship is never right.
I hope Peng Shuai and her family are safe and okay. "
aar / sid