WTA hopes China to return to the tennis calendar in 2023

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) hopes to have competitions in China in 2023 but will await the decision of the local state authorities.

There has been no professional women’s tennis competition in China since November 2021, when Chinese player Peng Shuai revealed she had been sexually assaulted by a senior politician. The sports world was worried about the tennis player’s health and condition.

The WTA withdrew from China. The men’s ATP also dropped China from its calendar last season but justified it with the country’s strict coronavirus rules.

“We hope to have events in the region in 2023, but we will not compromise on our core principles”, said the WTA chief Steve Simon.

The WTA continues to demand information from China on Peng Shuai’s case. “We have been assured that Penn is healthy, safe and well, but we have not met her in person”, added Steve Simon.