Tennis News, Monday November 22, 2021
Concern continues to mount in the tennis world as it is becoming increasingly apparent that WTA Tennis Star Peng Shuai has not been seen in public since raising allegations of sexual assault against a top official in China’s Communist Party. The WTA has signaled a willingness to walk away from doing business in China.
Peng Shuai: What to Know About the Missing Chinese Tennis Star
Peng Shuai, one of China’s most accomplished tennis stars, disappeared from public view in early November after a rare public allegation of sexual assault against a retired top official in China’s Communist Party. The international tennis community, including many of the sport’s best-known global stars and its governing bodies, have openly questioned Chinese authorities on her whereabouts and her allegation. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (11/19) The New York Times (11/21) Overnight update. Chinese state controlled media produced videos of Shuai and she appeared on a highly controlled video conference with the IOC. The WTA isn’t convinced of her safety. CNN (11/21)
Peng Shuai: fresh videos fail to ease concerns as China faces global backlash
New videos of the missing tennis star Peng Shuai have been released by Chinese state media amid growing global pressure for Beijing to provide verifiable evidence of her whereabouts and safety. There are serious questions over the video authenticity. Full Story: The Guardian (11/20)
Women’s Tennis Association could pull out of China over missing tennis star
Women’s Tennis Association Chairman and CEO Steve Simon tells CNN’s Erin Burnett the WTA is willing to pull out of China if tennis star Peng Shuai is not fully accounted for. Full Story: CNN (11/18)
Opinion: If women’s tennis has the courage to walk away from Chinese money, the rest of the sports world can, too.
If there was any sports league that had reason to kowtow to Chinese censorship and look the other way on human rights, it was the WTA. Over two months in the fall of 2019, the WTA sanctioned eight tournaments in China totaling almost $30 million in prize money, an amount that would be difficult to equal in other parts of the world. Full Story: USA Today (11/19)
Australian Open: Tennis Australia CEO says players must be vaccinated to play in grand slam
Tennis Australia Chief Executive Officer Craig Tiley tool an Australian TV Station “It’s been made very clear when the Premier announced several weeks ago that in order to participate at the Australian Open, to come into Victoria, you’ll need to be fully vaccinated.” “Immediately, we communicated that to the playing group. It is the one direction that you take that you can ensure everyone’s safety,” added Tiley as preparations for the first grand slam of the 2022 season get underway in Melbourne. Full Story: CNN (11/20)
Billie Jean King Cup tennis tournament returning to Asheville in April
The Billie Jean King Cup, previously known as Fed Cup, will return to Asheville next spring. The United States will play a best-of-five-match qualifier matchup against Ukraine at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center on April 15-16, 2022. Full Story: Citizen Times (11/16)
Why a tennis vet is offering free lessons to the Louisville community
There’s a tennis instructor in Louisville with a special mission in mind: teaching children, and hopefully change their lives, using a sport they enjoy most. Rackets, balls, nets — everything is provided. All the students have to do is show up to learn. Full Story: Spectrum News 1 (11/18)
Council angered by tennis court vandalism
Here is a pro tip for you. If you are going to vandalize tennis courts, don’t do it using rental scooters with GPS tracking enabled. Finding the perpetrators was relatively easy. Full Story: The Great Bend Tribune (11/19)
King Richard Released
Based on the true story that will inspire the world, King Richard follows the journey of an undeterred father instrumental in raising Venus and Serena Williams. King Richard stars Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, with Tony Goldwyn and Jon Bernthal. Official Trailer: HBO Max (11/19)
Serena and Venus Williams have another Richard Williams to thank for their tennis stardom
Before Richard Williams taught his daughters Serena and Venus how to play tennis, he went to another Richard Williams to learn how to play the game. Full Story: USA Today (11/20)
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location/Timezone |
| 11/13-28 | World Team Tennis Broadcast alert: Coverage switches over to the Tennis Channel today, Nov 22. | WTT | Indian Wells (UTC – 8) |
| 11/25-12/5 | The Davis Cup Finals | ITF | Madrid, Spain; Innsbruck, Austria; and Turin, Italy (UTC + 1) |
