Missing tennis star Peng Shuai appears at Beijing tournament amid global outcry

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, who had not been seen publicly since she made sexual assault allegations against a senior minister two weeks ago, made an appearance at a youth tournament in Beijing on Sunday, according to photos released by the organizer.

The post shared by the China Open showed the three-time Olympian and former Wimbledon champion standing beside a court, waving and signing oversize commemorative tennis balls for children.

Peng “went missing” after she accused Zhang Gaoli, a member of the party’s ruling Standing Committee until 2018, of forcing her to have sex on November 2. 

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Peng’s disappearance prompted calls for a boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February. 

Several tennis stars expressed their shock over the ‘disappearance’ of the tennis star. 

“I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai. I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent.” Serena Williams tweeted.

“I don’t have much information about it, I did hear about it a week ago, and honestly it’s shocking that she’s missing. More so that it’s someone that I’ve seen on the tour in previous years quite a few times,” Novak Djokovic said. 

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Roger Federer said, “She’s one of our tennis champions, a former world No. 1, and clearly it’s concerning. I hope she’s safe. The tennis family sticks together and I’ve always told my children as well that the tennis family is my second family. I’ve been on tour for 20-25 years and I love the tour, I love the people that are there, (they) are special, the players as well, and she’s one of them.”