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Peng Shuai (archive image)
Photo: FRANCIS MALASIG / EPA
If the members of the women's tennis organization WTA had hoped to get support from the gentlemen in the Peng Shuai case, this hope should now have been dashed.
The men's tennis association (ATP) has refused to join the China boycott because of the Chinese tennis player who has temporarily disappeared.
ATP boss Andrea Gaudenzi said on Thursday: "We know that sport can have a positive impact on society".
The association is "generally of the opinion that with a global presence we have the best chances of creating opportunities and making a difference."
World number two in men's tennis, Daniil Medvedev, said: "If a tournament were to take place in China next week, nobody would feel comfortable."
The next ATP tournament is in autumn.
"There are problems in many countries, and yet we play tennis tournaments in most of them," added Medvedev.
"The WTA made a strong decision, but I don't want to blame anyone who doesn't make the same decision."
WTA sends a clear message
Unlike Medvedev, number one in men's tennis, Novak Djokovic, had previously praised the WTA's China boycott: "I fully support the WTA's position because we don't have enough information about Shuai Peng," he said the day before .
Due to the case of the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who had temporarily disappeared from the public, the WTA had announced that it would no longer host tournaments in China for the time being.
He could not ask the athletes "with a clear conscience" to take part in tournaments there, said association boss Steven Simon on Wednesday.
"Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has apparently been pressured to back up her allegations of sexual abuse."
IOC in contact with the athlete by phone
The double winner at Wimbledon and the French Open had not been seen in public for more than two weeks after making allegations of rape against high-ranking communist party official Zhang Gaoli on the Weibo online service in early November.
Peng and Zhang had had a relationship with many interruptions for years.
The Chinese woman was later seen again in public for the first time - according to recordings in state media - and, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), had made a video call with its President Thomas Bach.
On Thursday she called the IOC again.
The athlete is apparently safe and she seems to be doing well, "considering the difficult situation in which she is," said the IOC afterwards.
jok / AFP