Women's tennis tour ends Peng Shuai-inspired China boycott
1 year, 8 months ago

Women's tennis tour ends Peng Shuai-inspired China boycott

The Hindu  

The women’s professional tennis tour will bring its events back to China later this year, announcing on April 13 the end of a boycott instituted in late 2021 over concerns about the safety of former player Peng Shuai after she accused a high-ranking government official there of sexual assault. WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said in an interview with The Associated Press that while what he sought was never delivered — a chance for someone from the tour to meet with Ms. Peng, along with a full and transparent investigation into the Grand Slam doubles champion’s accusations — the decision was made, with input from player and tournament representatives, to return to the country. By returning, hopefully more progress can be made.” Although there have been no reports of Ms. Peng’s sightings in public since carefully orchestrated appearances during the Beijing Olympics in February 2022, Mr. Simon said the WTA has “received assurances from people who are close to her, that we’ve been in contact with, that she is safe and living with her family in Beijing.” He added that the tour has been assured by the Chinese Tennis Association, the sport’s national governing body, that “there won’t be any issues with our athletes or our staff while they’re competing within the region.” He called the change in course “an organizational decision” and noted: “The great majority of the athletes were supportive and wanted to see a return. and felt it was time to go back.” The tour’s schedule in China should be revealed in the next couple of weeks, Mr. Simon said.

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History of this topic

Guangzhou Open: Olga Danilovic Triumphs in Women's Singles and Zhang Shuai Dominates Women's Doubles
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Guangzhou Open: Olga Danilovic Triumphs in Women's Singles and Zhang Shuai Dominates Women's Doubles

China Daily  

The 2024 Guangzhou International Women's Tennis Open concluded with exciting victories and a vibrant atmosphere. Zhang Shuai emerged victorious in the women's singles final, securing her 14th tour doubles title. Olga Danilovic won the women's singles title in her first-ever appearance in China, expressing her love for the city and the upcoming Guangzhou Open.

China's Tennis Boom: Zheng Qinwen's Rise Sparks a Tennis Renaissance
1 month, 4 weeks ago

China's Tennis Boom: Zheng Qinwen's Rise Sparks a Tennis Renaissance

The Hindu  

Paris Olympics champion Zheng Qinwen expressed concern about the popularity of tennis in China, highlighting the challenges players face in securing court bookings and finding coaches. She highlighted the flourishing state of tennis at all levels, with numerous tournaments attracting large crowds and inspiring a new generation of players.

Chinese Sports Events Ignite Public Enthusiasm, Drive Consumption
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Chinese Sports Events Ignite Public Enthusiasm, Drive Consumption

China Daily  

Sports events across China have seen a significant surge in popularity, driving public enthusiasm and boosting local consumption. The China Open, an ATP 500 and WTA 1000 hard court tennis tournament, attracted over 300,000 visitors and generated over 80 million yuan in ticket sales revenue. The event also spurred the local retail and catering industries, with sales of the tournament's …

Chinese men start to smash it!
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Chinese men start to smash it!

China Daily  

China's Wu Yibing hits a return to India's Sumit Nagal during their first-round match in Shanghai on Wednesday. By firing seven aces and racking up 25 winners, Wu dominated 83rd-ranked Nagal with his trademark barrage of powerful serves and lethal forehands, clinching his first win on the Tour since a first-round victory over Serbia's Dusan Lajovic at last year's US …

China cracks down on unruly behavior of online fans
4 months, 1 week ago

China cracks down on unruly behavior of online fans

China Daily  

Chen Meng embraces Sun Yingsha after defending her Olympic crown in the women's singles table tennis final at the Paris Olympics on Saturday. LIU PING/FOR CHINA DAILY Since the Paris Olympics, Chinese authorities have stepped up efforts to address unruly behavior in online fan communities, working with various agencies to crack down on illegal activities. On Saturday, the Chinese Table …

Zheng sparks golden age of tennis products
4 months, 1 week ago

Zheng sparks golden age of tennis products

China Daily  

China's Zheng Qinwen celebrates scoring a crucial point against Croatia's Donna Vekic during their women's singles tennis gold-medal match at Roland Garros in Paris on Aug 3. WEI XIAOHAO/CHINA DAILY Paris 2024 women's tennis singles gold winner Zheng Qinwen of China has fueled a nationwide trend in tennis sportswear and related fashion. During this year's 618 shopping festival around June …

Zheng Qinwen’s Olympic gold: A watershed moment for tennis and China
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Zheng Qinwen’s Olympic gold: A watershed moment for tennis and China

New York Times  

PARIS — It was only a matter of time for Chinese tennis, wasn’t it? In the biggest win on a tennis court for the world’s most populous country since the glory days of Li Na, Zheng Qinwen won the gold medal for China at Roland Garros on Saturday afternoon. Zheng, a 21-year-old rising star, took advantage of an erratic performance …

China's eighth seed Zheng ousted from Wimbledon first round
5 months, 3 weeks ago

China's eighth seed Zheng ousted from Wimbledon first round

China Daily  

China's Zheng Qinwen in action during her first round match against New Zealand's Lulu Sun at the Wimbledon Open at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain July 1, 2024. LONDON - The women's singles eighth seed Zheng Qinwen from China was upset by qualifier Lulu Sun of New Zealand in the opening round at the Wimbledon Championships …

China Open to serve up even more action
8 months, 1 week ago

China Open to serve up even more action

China Daily  

Iga Swiatek in Miami, US, Mar 24, 2024. Already the biggest combined tennis event in Asia, the 2024 edition of the China Open will get bigger and better after organizers announced last week that its women's tournament will be upgraded to a two-week event with 96 draws, up from 64 last year, joining Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome to …

Tennis star Zheng Qinwen makes history
10 months, 4 weeks ago

Tennis star Zheng Qinwen makes history

China Daily  

China's Zheng Qinwen celebrates victory against Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska after their women's singles semi-final match on day 12 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2024. In 2022, she made her Grand Slam main draw debut right at the Aussie Open, yet had never went beyond the second round at the previous two editions until leaving …

Things are looking up for China's aces Down Under
11 months ago

Things are looking up for China's aces Down Under

China Daily  

China's Zheng Qinwen celebrates winning her second round match against Britain's Katie Boulter on Thursday; China's Shang Juncheng beat India's Sumit Nagal to advance into the round of 32 at the Australian Open on Thursday;Wang Yafan reacts during her second round match against Britain's Emma Raducanu at the Australian Open on Thursday. Having watched the replay of Li's 2014 final …

Chasing pack's progress provides more positive signs
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Chasing pack's progress provides more positive signs

China Daily  

Up-and-coming Chinese talents Bai Zhuoxuan and Buyunchaokete enjoyed an encouraging 2023 season. A former top-10 junior, Bai finished the 2023 season ranked 88th on the WTA Tour, completing a meteoric rise from No 362 at the end of 2022, when she was too nervous to ask for a photo with three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur at a tournament in the …

Serving up success
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Serving up success

China Daily  

Zhang Zhizhen and Zheng Qinwen were China's top performers last year on the ATP and WTA tours respectively. Combining for five tour-level singles trophies, nine players in the world's top 100, a double of Asian Games titles, and a succession of milestones — Chinese tennis had plenty to cheer about over the past 12 months on the ATP and WTA …

Recharged Wang eyes fruitful 2024 after triumphant return
1 year ago

Recharged Wang eyes fruitful 2024 after triumphant return

China Daily  

Chinese tennis legend Li Na was a guest of honor at the CTA Tour SJM Professional Finals in Macao for the third straight year. A two-time Asian Games champion and holder of two WTA singles titles, the 31-year-old quickly got back into the swing of things by winning the CTA Tour Finals' women's singles trophy in Macao last week. Chinese …

Tennis’ top women say the sport is broken. This is why
1 year, 1 month ago

Tennis’ top women say the sport is broken. This is why

New York Times  

For the better part of a decade, Tatjana Maria, the veteran German player, has been cramming into cramped hotel rooms with her husband/coach and children, or using her own money to pay for larger ones as she traveled the world with her family so she could be a full-time mom and professional tennis player. “These questions have been brewing for …

Swiatek feels free of No. 1 ‘baggage’ ahead of China Open
1 year, 2 months ago

Swiatek feels free of No. 1 ‘baggage’ ahead of China Open

The Hindu  

World number two Iga Swiatek said Saturday she felt relieved of the “baggage” of defending the top ranking and was looking to switch up her game ahead of the China Open in Beijing. “It’s a little bit easier to come back to the mindset of chasing somebody because that’s what we’ve been doing our whole lives,” the 22-year-old said. The …

US Open Champion Coco Gauff Says 'Questions' Remain Over Peng Shuai Assault Case
1 year, 2 months ago

US Open Champion Coco Gauff Says 'Questions' Remain Over Peng Shuai Assault Case

News 18  

Coco Gauff said Friday there were “still a lot of questions” about the status of Peng Shuai, as international women’s tennis returns to Beijing for the first time since the Chinese star made sexual assault allegations against a top government official. Peng, a former doubles champion, vanished from public view for weeks in late 2021 after she wrote on social …

China Open: Teen star Coco Gauff says ‘questions’ remain over Peng assault case
1 year, 2 months ago

China Open: Teen star Coco Gauff says ‘questions’ remain over Peng assault case

The Hindu  

Coco Gauff said Friday there were “still a lot of questions” about the status of Peng Shuai, as international women’s tennis returns to Beijing for the first time since the Chinese star made sexual assault allegations against a top government official. Peng, a former doubles champion, vanished from public view for weeks in late 2021 after she wrote on social …

China’s Wang Xiyu claims maiden WTA title in Guangzhou after defeating Magda Linette in final
1 year, 3 months ago

China’s Wang Xiyu claims maiden WTA title in Guangzhou after defeating Magda Linette in final

The Hindu  

China’s Wang Xiyu captured her maiden WTA Tour title on Saturday as the world number 88 powered past Magda Linette 6-0, 6-2 in the final of the Guangzhou Open, the first elite women’s tournament in the Asian nation since 2019. A dream becomes reality 🏆⭐️ Xiyu Wang captures her first-ever Hologic WTA Tour title on home soil! I think there’s …

Four years later, professional tennis resumes in China after WTA ends Peng Shuai boycott
1 year, 3 months ago

Four years later, professional tennis resumes in China after WTA ends Peng Shuai boycott

Associated Press  

A four-year absence of elite women’s tennis in China is set to end with the Women’s Tennis Association holding seven tournaments in the next six weeks as part of the tour’s Asian swing. After tournaments in China were cancelled due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2020, the WTA suspended events in the country in December 2021 over concerns about Grand …

WTA must keep Peng Shuai case in public eye on China return, says human rights advocate
1 year, 3 months ago

WTA must keep Peng Shuai case in public eye on China return, says human rights advocate

The Hindu  

Elite women’s tennis returns to China for the first time in four years at Guangzhou next week after the WTA ended a boycott over concerns about Peng Shuai, but her wellbeing should remain the focus, a senior human rights advocate told Reuters on Friday. The women’s tour had been widely praised for suspending its tournaments in the Asian nation after …

Zheng Qinwen stopped in US Open quarterfinals, Wang Xinyu into doubles semis
1 year, 3 months ago

Zheng Qinwen stopped in US Open quarterfinals, Wang Xinyu into doubles semis

China Daily  

Zheng Qinwen of China hits a return during the women's singles quarterfinal against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the 2023 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept 6, 2023. NEW YORK - China's rising star Zheng Qinwen was stopped in the US Open quarterfinals, losing to world number two Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-1, 6-4 here …

The missing superstars of women’s tennis
1 year, 6 months ago

The missing superstars of women’s tennis

The Hindu  

Bring me the sweat of Gabriela Sabatini, wrote the poet Clive James, going on to add, In a green Lycergus cup with a sprig of mint,/ But add no sugar –/ The bitterness is what I want./ If I craved sweetness I would be asking you to bring me/ The tears of Annabel Croft. More appeal for men’s tennis In …

Hong Kong to host first men’s ATP tennis event in 20 years
1 year, 6 months ago

Hong Kong to host first men’s ATP tennis event in 20 years

The Hindu  

International men’s tennis will return to Hong Kong in January for the first time in more than 20 years, the ATP Tour said on Monday, and will act as build-up to the Australian Open. The outdoor hard-court event will be held on December 31 to January 7 and replaces the tournament in Pune, India which took place this year around …

ATP hails ‘new era’ for Chinese tennis at Shanghai Masters launch
1 year, 7 months ago

ATP hails ‘new era’ for Chinese tennis at Shanghai Masters launch

The Hindu  

ATP executives hailed a “new era” for Chinese tennis as they relaunched the lucrative Shanghai Masters on Monday after three consecutive years of Covid cancellations. Peng, a former doubles world number one, has not been seen outside China since 2021, when she made -- and then withdrew -- accusations of sexual assault against a high-ranking official. Zhang Zhizhen then became …

Daniil Medvedev to Headline Return of Elite Men's Tennis to China
1 year, 7 months ago

Daniil Medvedev to Headline Return of Elite Men's Tennis to China

News 18  

Former world number one Daniil Medvedev will headline the return of elite men’s tennis to China after a Covid-enforced break of four years, organisers said on Wednesday. The Russian, winner of the US Open in 2021 and a two-time Australian Open runner-up, will play at the ATP Tour’s Zhuhai Championships on September 20-26. Zhuhai Championships officials have also been in …

Revitalized Zheng ready to resume upswing
1 year, 8 months ago

Revitalized Zheng ready to resume upswing

China Daily  

China's Zheng Qinwen returns to Alycia Parks during her first-round victory in Stuttgart on Tuesday. MATHIAS SCHULZ/FOR CHINA DAILY Rising star shakes off setbacks, hails WTA's China return as additional boost With her body healthy again and home tournaments resuming, China's top women's ace Zheng Qinwen is preparing for her latest shot at world No 1 Iga Swiatek with renewed …

WTA ending Peng Shuai-inspired China boycott shows country is key to women's tennis on and off court
1 year, 8 months ago

WTA ending Peng Shuai-inspired China boycott shows country is key to women's tennis on and off court

Firstpost  

The WTA’s decision this week to return to China, despite unresolved questions around the safety of player Peng Shuai, betrays the financial and strategic importance of the country to the tennis organisation, analysts and former players say. Explained: Reasons behind women’s tennis ending China boycott over Peng Shuai But on Thursday it backed down, saying it had concluded “we will …

Women’s tennis tour ends Peng Shuai-inspired China boycott
1 year, 8 months ago

Women’s tennis tour ends Peng Shuai-inspired China boycott

Associated Press  

The women’s professional tennis tour will bring its events back to China later this year, announcing on Thursday the end of a boycott instituted in late 2021 over concerns about the safety of former player Peng Shuai after she accused a high-ranking government official there of sexual assault. WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said in an interview with The …

Explained: Why is women’s tennis China boycott over Peng Shuai ending
1 year, 8 months ago

Explained: Why is women’s tennis China boycott over Peng Shuai ending

The Hindu  

The women’s professional tennis tour is ending its suspension of tournaments in China that was initiated in late 2021 over concerns about Grand Slam doubles champion Peng Shuai’s well-being. FILE PHOTO: Supporters of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai hold up T-shirts ahead of the women’s final at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Jan. 29, 2022. | Photo Credit: AP …

Why is women’s tennis China boycott over Peng Shuai ending?
1 year, 8 months ago

Why is women’s tennis China boycott over Peng Shuai ending?

Associated Press  

The women’s professional tennis tour is ending its suspension of tournaments in China that was initiated in late 2021 over concerns about Grand Slam doubles champion Peng Shuai’s well-being. The WTA announced Thursday that it will return to competition in China this season, even though two of its key requests were never met: a chance to meet with Peng, and …

WTA to resume tournaments in China following boycott over Peng Shuai’s allegation
1 year, 8 months ago

WTA to resume tournaments in China following boycott over Peng Shuai’s allegation

New York Times  

The Women’s Tennis Association will resume tournaments in China in September after 16 months of suspended competitions following the “censorship” of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai’s sexual assault allegation against a former government official, the WTA announced Thursday. The WTA said the decision to suspend events in China, including Hong Kong, “received much praise for our principled stand and believe …

WTA must stand firm on Peng and China, says human rights advocate
1 year, 8 months ago

WTA must stand firm on Peng and China, says human rights advocate

The Hindu  

The WTA should stick to its principles and not resume playing tournaments in China until the Peng Shuai issue has been resolved despite the financial impact of its stand, a senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch has urged. Reversing its decision without China meeting its request for a meeting with Peng would open the WTA up to accusations of …

ITF resumes tennis in China with no word on Peng Shuai
1 year, 8 months ago

ITF resumes tennis in China with no word on Peng Shuai

Firstpost  

The ITF, which conducts tournaments below the elite level in its World Tennis Tour, lists its first tournament in China on 5-11 June at Luzhou. Tokyo: The International Tennis Federation will play tournaments this year in China with no word of a resolution to the case of Chinese doubles player Peng Shuai. “The ITF anticipates a resumption of tournament activity …

WTA set to announce long-awaited decision on return to China
1 year, 8 months ago

WTA set to announce long-awaited decision on return to China

The Hindu  

The WTA Tour’s long-awaited decision on its return to China is “forthcoming” and the tournament schedule for the rest of the year is due in the coming weeks, the governing body of women’s tennis told Reuters on Friday. Peng’s post caused an international outcry over her safety and led the WTA to suspend tournaments in China - a decision expected …

Women’s tennis tour, WTA, in commercial partnership with CVC
1 year, 9 months ago

Women’s tennis tour, WTA, in commercial partnership with CVC

Associated Press  

The women’s professional tennis tour launched a commercial enterprise with CVC Capital Partners on Tuesday to increase revenues for the sport, with the investment manager contributing $150 million for a 20% stake in what will be known as WTA Ventures LLC. “This arrangement is certainly going to provide for us to create more investment opportunity to our players and our …

Building on net gains as relentless efforts finally paid off
1 year, 11 months ago

Building on net gains as relentless efforts finally paid off

China Daily  

Rising star Wu Yibing and 97th-ranked Zhang Zhizhen are rebooting men's tennis in China after a progressive year. Defined by achievements on the women's circuit for more than a decade, Chinese tennis had its long-awaited dream of men's rise come true big time last year following Zhang Zhizhen's top-100 breakthrough and former US Open boys' champion Wu Yibing's revival on …

WTA says return to China will require resolution to Peng Shuai case
1 year, 11 months ago

WTA says return to China will require resolution to Peng Shuai case

The Hindu  

The return of WTA tournaments to China in 2023 will hinge on a resolution to the Peng Shuai issue, with the governing body of the women’s game telling Reuters on Wednesday it had still not met the Chinese former doubles world number one personally. A provisional 2023 tournament calendar released late last year listed the WTA’s schedule up to September, …

BWF World Tour Finals moved from Guangzhou to Bangkok due to COVID-19
2 years, 1 month ago

BWF World Tour Finals moved from Guangzhou to Bangkok due to COVID-19

The Hindu  

BWF World Tour Finals have been moved from Guangzhou, China, to Bangkok, Thailand, due to COVID-19, the Badminton World Federation announced on Tuesday. In an official statement, the world governing body for the sport said, “BWF in consultation with the Chinese Badminton Association agreed to relocate the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2022 due to the various challenges brought about …

AP Interview: Tennis tour CEO still wants Peng Shuai inquiry
2 years, 1 month ago

AP Interview: Tennis tour CEO still wants Peng Shuai inquiry

Associated Press  

FORT WORTH, Texas — The man in charge of women’s professional tennis, Steve Simon, has been sitting close enough to the action at the season-ending WTA Finals this week — from a seat in front of the front row, as courtside as can be — that a player easily could wander over for a mid-match chat. “Everyone’s looking for stability,” …

China eases strict Covid rules for Table Tennis Tournaments, no quarantine required
2 years, 1 month ago

China eases strict Covid rules for Table Tennis Tournaments, no quarantine required

Hindustan Times  

As millions of people in the Chinese city of Chengdu exited a weeks-long Covid-19 lockdown last month, hundreds of professional table tennis players from 30 countries boarded charter flights into the metropolis – freshly sanitized paddles in hand – to compete in the 2022 World Team Table Tennis Championships Final. China eases strict Covid rules for Table Tennis Tournaments, no …

China to Host BWF World Tour Finals in December
2 years, 2 months ago

China to Host BWF World Tour Finals in December

News 18  

China will host its first international badminton tournament since 2019 in December, the Badminton World Federation said on Thursday, after two years of disruptions caused by COVID. The season-ending World Tour Finals, scheduled for Guangzhou from Dec. 14-18, will feature the top eight players and pairs in each category with a prize pool of $1.5 million, the biggest the event …

WTA Finals moved to Fort Worth, Texas, 'due' to return to China in 2023
2 years, 3 months ago

WTA Finals moved to Fort Worth, Texas, 'due' to return to China in 2023

Firstpost  

A WTA spokeswoman said its tournaments in China remain suspended for 2022 but that events could return next year. New York: The season-ending WTA Finals will take place in Texas next month and are due to return to China in 2023, the WTA said Tuesday. In a statement, the WTA said this year’s championships would take place in Fort Worth …

ATP cancels 2022 tennis tournaments in China due to COVID restrictions
2 years, 5 months ago

ATP cancels 2022 tennis tournaments in China due to COVID restrictions

Hindustan Times  

The Shanghai Masters and three other men's tournaments in China will not be held this year due to COVID-19 restrictions in the country, the ATP Tour said on Thursday. ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi told Reuters last month that the prospects of the 2022 China swing were bleak. "This marks the third year of cancellation for the ATP's China swing, typically …

Wimbledon 2022: Activist removed from Centre Court for Peng Shuai protest
2 years, 5 months ago

Wimbledon 2022: Activist removed from Centre Court for Peng Shuai protest

Firstpost  

Peng is a retired professional tennis player from China who last year accused a former high-ranking member of the country’s ruling Communist Party of sexual assault. London: An activist who shouted “Where is Peng Shuai?” and held up a sign with the same message was removed from Centre Court during the Wimbledon men’s final on Sunday. Why won’t Wimbledon say …

China set to serve up some female aces
2 years, 6 months ago

China set to serve up some female aces

China Daily  

Anyone over 20 and worth their tennis salt remembers where they were that sweltering summer night in early June in the Parisian suburbs when Li Na won the 2011 French Open women's singles championship, becoming the first Asian Grand Slam champion of either gender. But, perhaps, most impressive of late among young Chinese female court maestros is a 19-year old …

ATP to make call on 2022 China events within a month, says Gaudenzi
2 years, 6 months ago

ATP to make call on 2022 China events within a month, says Gaudenzi

The Hindu  

The prospects of the Shanghai Masters and three other men’s tournaments taking place in China this year look bleak unless there is a rapid improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the country, ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has told Reuters. The four events, including the Masters, are scheduled for September and October and Gaudenzi said a decision on their fate will …

ATP to Take Call on 2022 China Events Within a Month, Says Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi
2 years, 6 months ago

ATP to Take Call on 2022 China Events Within a Month, Says Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi

News 18  

The prospects of the Shanghai Masters and three other men’s tournaments taking place in China this year look bleak unless there is a rapid improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the country, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has told Reuters. ”We haven’t made a decision but we expect to make a decision in the coming month or so.” The French Open …

Peng Shuai mistakenly included in Rome tournament schedule
2 years, 7 months ago

Peng Shuai mistakenly included in Rome tournament schedule

The Hindu  

The Rome tennis tournament organisers caused surprise on Sunday by including the name of Peng Shuai, the Chinese player at the centre of sexual allegations against a senior politician, on a training schedule. But as media began asking questions in the Italian capital, organisers said they had made a mistake and Peng's name was replaced by her compatriot Zhang Shuai, …

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