WTA ending Peng Shuai-inspired China boycott shows country is key to women's tennis on and off court
FirstpostThe 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 never fully secure those goals, and it will be our players and tournaments who ultimately will be paying an extraordinary price for their sacrifices”. Caroline Garcia backs WTA’s return to China following Peng Shuai saga: “ATP & ITF were already going back & women’s tennis is following. I’m looking forward to it.” pic.twitter.com/YyuMTTruvG — The Tennis Letter April 14, 2023 The WTA has suffered deep financial losses recently, with Chinese tournaments cancelled due to the pandemic. “China rapidly became the centre of the WTA’s plans for growth” after Li Na became the country’s first Grand Slam champion in 2011, wrote The Guardian’s tennis reporter Tumaini Carayol.