Omen Tennis Association (WTA) President Steve Simon tags a video showing the missing Chinese player Peng Shuai “Insufficient” in a restaurant.
Peng, the former Wimbledon tag team champion, smiles in the apparently new footage released China National media.
Concerned about the well-being of the 35-year-old, he has not received direct news for more than two weeks, and even reached the United Nations and the White House this week.
The former world number one in doubles appears to have disappeared after making sexual assault accusations against the former deputy prime minister of China on the social media site Weibo.
Simon said in a WTA statement: “I am very happy to see a video released by Chinese state media showing Peng Shuai in a restaurant in Beijing.”
“Although seeing her is positive, it is unclear whether she has freedom and whether she can make decisions and take actions on her own without coercion or external interference. This video alone is not enough.
“As I said from the beginning, I still worry about Peng Shuai’s health and safety, and allegations of sexual assault are being reviewed and covered up.
“I know exactly what needs to happen, and our relationship with China is at a crossroads.”
On Saturday, the organizers of the Wimbledon Tennis Open also called for confirmation of Peng’s health.
A statement read: “We are united with others in the tennis world and need to understand that Peng Shuai is safe. We have been working hard to support the WTA to build her safety through our behind-the-scenes relationship.
“Together with the global tennis community, we hope Peng Shuai knows that her health is of the utmost importance to us, and we will continue to work hard to clarify her safety.”
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal also expressed their opinions for many tennis stars in the game, and they magnified WTA’s concerns.
Federer said in an interview with Sky Italia: “She is one of our tennis champions and the former number one in the world. Obviously this is worrying. I hope she is safe. The tennis family is united and I always tell my children. The tennis family is my second family.”
Nadal added in an interview with the French “Team Daily”: “I follow the news and read articles about Peng Shuai. Although I don’t have all the information, the most important thing here is to know if she is okay. All the members of our tennis family Some people hope to see her come back with us soon.”
