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Rafael Nadal has become the latest top player to speak out on the disappearance of Peng Shuai. His comments came after Wimbledon issued a statement on the missing Chinese tennis player and their 2013 doubles champion, saying they were working with the WTA to establish her whereabouts. Peng has not been directly heard from since November 2, when she accused China’s former vice premier of sexual assault.
Peng Shuai has not been accounted for since accusing Zhang Gaoli, the former vice premier of China, of sexual abuse in a lengthy Weibo post on November 2.
The former doubles No 1 also detailed an on-and-off consensual affair with the now-retired politician who is 40 years her senior, dating back to 2011.
Zhang – who served on China’s top ruling council, the Politburo Standing Committee, between 2012 and 2017 – has not responded to the claims, while a spokesperson for Beijing's foreign ministry denied all knowledge of the allegations when asked about the subject, saying: “I have not heard of it and it is not a diplomatic question.”
Tennis players, government officials and leaders of the sport’s governing bodies including the WTA, ATP and ITF have all spoken out in recent days, raising concerns for her safety and whereabouts, and calling for a full investigation into her allegations.
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