The executive director of the WTA has stood up to the Asian country for the missing tennis player since the beginning of November.
WTA Executive Director Steve Simon, an innovative tennis leader with forward thinking convictions, has stood up to China over the disappearance of player Peng Shuai with unusual forcefulness for a head of a world sports body.
Simon made China the main source of income for the women’s tennis circuit, especially with the signing in 2018 of a lucrative contract to host the WTA Finals, the traditional end-of-season event, in the city of Shenzhen for a decade.
By signing these agreements, which include another nine tournaments in Chinese territory with a total endowment of about 30 million dollars, the American executive possibly did not consider that it was a risky strategy but three years later he has run into an unexpected situation.
The financial interests of the circuit in the Asian giant are threatened by the possible consequences of the disappearance of China’s Peng Shuai.
The former world number one in doubles has been missing since early November when she accused a former senior Chinese Communist Party official, Zhang Gaoli, of forcing her to have sex.
In the midst of a growing indignation that surpasses the world of tennis, Simon assumed an unusual position in the relations that the different world sports organizations have with Beijing and threatened to withdraw the country from the women’s circuit.
Interests at stake
“We are willing to withdraw our business and face all the complications that arise because this is more important than the business,” Simons told CNN on Thursday in reference to Shuai’s allegations.
“Women must be respected and not censored,” stressed the leader, who demanded information about the tennis player’s whereabouts and a “transparent and fair” investigation of her complaint, as governments such as the United States later did.
While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is noted for its silence on the case, three months after the Winter Olympics are held in Beijing, the WTA has assumed leadership in this case that has filled the community with “pride”. legendary former tennis star Billie Jean King, founder of the body in 1973 and tireless advocate for gender equality.
Like other figures like Serena Williams, King endorsed Simons’ appointment as head of the WTA in 2015.
And now he is not surprised that the manager has given an even bolder response to Beijing than NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who in 2019 refused to apologize and sanction executive Daryl Morey (Houston Rockets) for a message from support for the demonstrations in Hong Kong.
Simons, a 66-year-old Californian, entered the tennis world in 1989 as a commercial for the Indian Wells tournament after six years at Adidas.
In 2004, he assumed the leadership of Indian Wells and helped make it one of the most prestigious events after the Grand Slam, with an emphasis on innovation, as it was the first tennis tournament to adopt “hawk-eye” technology in all venues. tracks.
Simons also played a role in bringing Serena Williams back to racing at Indian Wells in 2015, ending a 14-year boycott of the player over “perceived racism” from the stands towards her and her sister Venus in the 2001 edition.
“Steve couldn’t have been more helpful, professional and understanding,” Serena said in 2015. “I know how much the opinion of the players matters to him. He listens to us, has our best interests in mind. ” (D)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
