Follow usThe WTA will make a return to China after accepting that the Chinese government will not be carrying out an investigation into the sexual allegations made by Peng Shuai.
The 37 year-old stated back November 2021 that she had been forced into a sexual relationship with former China vice-premier Zhang Gaoli.
The WTA back then reacted by tearing down its contract with the Chinese tennis federation up until the investigation is over.
However, the WTA decided against waiting for the investigation and instead return in the hope of progress being made.
“We’ve been in this for 16 months and we are convinced that at this point our requests will not be met,” WTA chief executive Steve Simon told BBC Sport.
“To continue with the same strategy doesn’t make sense and a different approach is needed. Hopefully, by returning, more progress can be made.”
This means the last two month of the WTA will once again be filled with Chinese events as it was in the pre-pandemic period up until 2019. Back then eight tournaments had been staged in eight weeks from early September onwards.
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