The Stuttgart WTA event has began with a smattering of first-round matches however the focus was very a lot on the controversy surrounding Chinese participant Peng Shuai.
The ladies’s tennis tour introduced final week that it will return to holding tournaments in China from September having suspended operations there in 2021.
The suspension adopted the case of Peng, who appeared to accuse a senior Chinese politician of sexual abuse solely to vanish for a short while after which deny she had made such an allegation, with the social media publish deleted.
Fellow Chinese participant Zheng Qinwen beat American Alycia Parks 6-4 6-4 on Monday to guide a second spherical tie with defending champion and world No.1 Iga Swaitek, who had a first-round bye.
But she was then peppered with questions on Peng and the WTA.
“I think she is doing pretty well in China and has a normal life. But honestly, I don’t know how she’s doing. I’m focusing more on myself,” she stated.
Human rights campaigners concern Peng was coerced into recanting her authentic allegations.
Chinese cash is essential to the WTA and its gamers, with Germany’s Tatjana Maria having no qualms about returning to the nation.
“I think it is of course important that we talk about Peng Shuai and that we make sure she is OK,” she stated.
“The option of playing in China is good for us players, it means more tournaments and more possibilities.”
The event begins in earnest on Tuesday, with the likes of Coco Gauff and Karolina Pliskova in motion.
In-form Petra Kvitova won’t participate after pulling out with a foot damage.
There are not any Australian gamers within the occasion.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
