Martina Navratilova hits out over Peng Shuai t-shirt ban at Australian Open 2022

Martina Navratilova has accused Tennis Australia of taking a «weak and cowardly” approach by banning t-shirts supporting Peng Shuai at the Australian Open. In November 2021, Peng accused a former Chinese Communist party vice-premier, Zhang Gaoli, of alleged sexual coercion three years previous. Ad/> Her Weibo social media account has since been disabled and her public appearances have been sporadic since.

That prompted concern around the world, including from professional tennis players, about her safety and whereabouts. Australian OpenFans see 'Where is Peng Shuai?' banners confiscated at Australian OpenYESTERDAY AT 09:38 And the tennis great, who has 59 Grand Slam titles across singles and doubles, has been vocal in her criticism of Tennis Australia — previously saying the approach to blocking the “Where is Peng Shuai?” items is “pathetic” in a post on Twitter. /> The WTA has reportedly requested stronger evidence that Peng is safe and well and the tour will not hold events in China until it is satisfied.

»Sports has always been kind of on the forefront of social issues, pushing them forward, and we are going backwards I feel,” Navratilova told the Tennis Channel. «We've had the issue with Peng Shuai, and now there were fans at the tournament watching Naomi Osaka practise, they weren't even on the main court, they had 'Where is Peng Shuai' on their T-shirt and they were told to cover it up. /> »Kind of really capitulating on this issue from the Aussies and letting the Chinese really dictate what they do at their own Slam.