Tennis stars express concern for whereabouts of Chinese player Peng Shuai

Concerns have grown across the tennis community about the whereabouts of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai.

Peng hasn't been seen in public since she accused former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexually assaulting her.

The 2013 Wimbledon doubles champion took to social media on November 2 to report that Gaoli had forced her to have sex with him when she visited him and his wife at their home for dinner approximately three years ago, despite repeated refusal.

The 35-year-old added that she later agreed to a secret affair with Zhang, who is reportedly 74 or 75 years old.

The post was quickly taken down from Chinese social media, but not before thousands of screenshots were redistributed online.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson commented on the lack of answer from the government saying her disappearance was "not a diplomatic matter" and he "was not aware of the situation".

WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon said in a statement on Wednesday that he doubts a recent email he received from missing Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai is actually from her.

On Wednesday, CGTN, the international section of China's state-owned media, released on its Twitter feed an email that it claimed was written by Peng and had been sent to Simon.

In the email, Peng says she's "resting at home" and recants her earlier accusation of sexual assault against Zhang.

But in his statement, Simon said he had a "hard time believing" the email is legitimate and called for Peng to be allowed to "speak freely, without coersion or intimidation".

Earlier, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) said it was "deeply concerned" over Peng Shuai's immediate safety and whereabouts.

"We are encouraged by the recent assurances received by WTA that she is safe and