Although the safety of Peng Shuai is still their “primary concern,” Tennis Australia claimed in a statement that their ticket conditions do not allow entry of clothing, banners or signs that are either “commercial or political.”
Security officials at the Grand Slam have demanded the audience to remove shirts with messages of support and banners bearing the slogan "Where Is Peng Shuai?", a decision backed by Tennis Australia and Australian Open organizers.
Although the safety of Peng Shuai is still their “primary concern,” Tennis Australia claimed in a statement that their ticket conditions do not allow entry of clothing, banners or signs that are either “commercial or political.”
“Peng Shuai’s safety is our primary concern. We continue to work with the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) and global tennis community to seek more clarity on her situation and will do everything we can to ensure her wellbeing.” they added on the statement.
On Sunday, Drew Pavlou, a Queensland-based, Australian Senate candidate, tweeted a video of actor Max Mok and a woman stopped by the officials in Melbourne Park who was wearing a shirt with an image of Peng on the front and the message ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ on the back.
An officer can be seen in the video and heard saying, “Tennis Australia does set the rules, and regardless of what you’re saying — and I’m not saying you can’t have those views — but I am saying that Tennis Australia sets the rules here.”
Shuai is a former doubles world number one who has been absent in the public and from the Grand Slam after alleging online that she had been sexually assaulted by Chinese former vice-premier, Zhang Gaoli, which was immediately censored.
After almost three weeks of no public sighting nor any signs of Peng, she appeared in public in China with more concern from the public as to the real score of her safety.
WTA Players' Council member and former world number one Victoria Azarenka said the organization is still yet to hear directly from Peng.
"There hasn't been that much development in terms of contact with Peng Shuai even though from our side we will continue to make any and all efforts to make sure that she is safe, she feels comfortable," Azarenka said.
"Hopefully we will get to hear from her personally at some point. I think that's the goal, the main goal right now."
Tags: #sports, #tennis, #PengShuai, #AustraliaOpen, #China