(Reuters) -4-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka stated she was involved over the wherabouts of fellow tennis participant Peng Shuai, who has not been heard from since making allegations of sexual assault towards a former Chinese language vice premier.

Peng, certainly one of China’s greatest sport stars, stated on social media earlier this month {that a} former member of China’s Politburo Standing Committee, Zhang Gaoli, coerced her into intercourse and that they later had an on-off consensual relationship.

The worldwide tennis group has grown alarmed as Peng has not been seen because the publish and on Monday the governing physique of males’s tennis (ATP) backed the Ladies’s Tennis Affiliation’s (WTA) name for China to analyze the allegations.

“I used to be not too long ago knowledgeable of a fellow tennis participant that has gone lacking shortly after revealing that she has been sexually abused,” stated Japan’s Osaka. “Censorship isn’t okay at any price, I hope Peng Shuai and her household are protected and okay.

“I am in shock of the present scenario and I am sending love and lightweight her manner. #whereispengshuai.”

WTA chief Simon instructed the New York Occasions on Sunday that nobody on the Tour has talked on to Peng however that he had acquired assurances from the Chinese language Tennis Affiliation that she was protected “and never below any bodily risk”.

The Chinese language Tennis Affiliation didn’t reply to a request for touch upon Wednesday.

The 35-year-old Peng was the primary Chinese language participant to high the world rankings when she was doubles primary in 2014. She gained doubles titles at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014.

Zhang, now 75, was a vice premier between 2013 and 2018 and served on the Politburo Standing Committee between 2012 and 2017.