Peng feared being held incommunicado by the Chinese government after accusing retired Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli of forcing her to have sex during an on-and-off relationship lasting several years.
The immediate response from Chinese authorities was to censor any mention of the accusation online and block Peng’s Weibo account from search results.
Peng disappeared from public view for more than two weeks, prompting the world’s biggest tennis stars and the United Nations to demand answers about his whereabouts, as well as a full investigation into his allegations against Zhang.
Peng, a three-time Olympian and Grand Slam doubles champion, later denied filing sexual assault charges.
“I have never spoken or written about anyone who sexually assaulted me,” Peng told Singapore-based Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao in December 2021.
WTA President Steve Simon said at the time of the WTA ban in China: “I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and was apparently pressured to contradict his allegations of sexual assault.
“Given the current situation, I am also very concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff may face if we were to hold events in China in 2022.”
In Tuesday’s statement, the WTA said the season-ending WTA Finals would be held in Shenzhen, China in 2023, while this year’s edition – originally scheduled to be hosted in the Asian nation – will be held in Fort Worth, TX. , from October 31.
CNN has reached out to the WTA and Simon for comment now that the tour has decided to return to China.
In August, International Tennis Federation (ITF) President David Haggerty told CNN he spoke to Peng about six weeks ago and she appeared to be safe.
Haggerty admitted that he did not see Peng in person, but spoke to him via videoconference.
