Serena Williams is the latest in a string of athletes to profess her concerns over the safety of Chinese tennis player, Peng Shuai, BBC News has reported.
On November 2, Shuai accused former Chinese Vice Premier, Zhang Gaoli, of sexually assaulting her.
In a Weibo post that was deleted half an hour later, per The Guardian, Shuai alleged that Zhang had forced her into having sexual intercourse after inviting her to his house to play the game with him and his wife three years ago. She also said that she and Zhang had previously had consensual relations, detailing that she'd no evidence to corroborate her claims, but was determined to share her story, nonetheless.
Shuai has not been seen in public since, CBS Sports adds. On Wednesday, November 17, a letter said to have been written by Shuai was released by Chinese state media, alleging that she was fine, "not missing", and at home.
However, doubts about the letter's authenticity started circulating on social media, after it appeared on the Twitter account of CGTN, an English-language television channel broadcast by China.
Now, tennis star Serena Williams has voiced her concern on Twitter. "I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai," the 23-time Grand Slam champion wrote.
"I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent. Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time. #whereispengshuai."
This comes after men's world number one tennis player, Novak Djokovic said that the events were "shocking".
"I don't have much information about it. I did hear about it a week ago. Honestly, it's shocking that she's missing, more so that it's someone that I have seen on the tour in the previous years quite a few times," he said per Sky Sports. "It's not much more to say than hope that she will be found, that she's OK. It's just terrible. I can imagine just how her family feels that she's missing."
Tennis star, Naomi Osaka, also took to Twitter to share a picture of Peng, and added that "censorship is never OK."
Today, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) said that they are prepared to pull tournaments out of China if there is not a sufficient response to Shuai's allegation of sexual assault, chief executive, Steve Simon, told US media.
"We are at a crossroads with our relationship with China and operating our business over there," he said in an interview with CNN. "We’re definitely willing to pull our business and deal with all the complications that come with it because this is certainly, this is bigger than the business."
Simon added that the WTA have not yet been able to talk to Peng, and are worried about her.
