By Amy Tennery

(Reuters] -The Women’s Tennis Association’s head voiced concern Wednesday over an email received by it. It was released also by a Chinese media outlet. Peng Shuai, a tennis player, had denied her accusations of sexual assault.

Peng, one China’s most prominent sports stars, claimed that Zhang Gaoli, a former Chinese vice-premier, coerced Peng into having sex. They later had a consensual relationship.

The post was deleted approximately half an hour later. She had never been seen or made a statement in public since that time, alarming all of the tennis world.

Twitter (NYSE 🙂 Wednesday saw a Chinese media outlet CGTN release an email Peng wrote to WTA Chairman Steve Simon. In which Peng claimed that she had denied the allegations of assault. China has blocked Twitter.

Simon wrote that the statement made today by Chinese state media regarding Peng Shuai raises his concerns about her safety.

I have difficulty believing Peng Shuai wrote the email that we got or believe what she is claiming to have done.

Beijing is yet to respond on Peng’s original allegation. Discussions of the subject have been blocked by China’s highly censored internet.

China is set to host the Winter Olympics at Beijing’s Winter Olympics this February, amid protests from rights groups around the world calling for an international boycott due to its poor human rights record.

My answer is simple. “This isn’t a foreign matter and I don’t know of the situation that you mentioned.” Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry said Thursday about Peng and whether China was concerned Peng would impact its image before the Olympics.

Chinese Tennis Association has not yet responded to my request.

Peng’s email, which CGTN attributes as Peng, says “I am not missing nor unsafe.” Everything is okay, I just stayed at home.

The letter was reported by CGTN (the English-language division of CCTV), and no other Chinese media outlets in Asia as of Thursday morning.

Peng’s representative did not immediately reply to my request for comment.

Peng’s claims were previously investigated by both the Florida-based WTA (with its male counterpart), the Association of Tennis Professionals in London (ATP).

Ex- and current players, such as multi-major winning Naomi Osaka or Novak Djokovic and Billie Jean King to name a few, expressed their support and concern for Peng. A lot of top women’s player took to social networking with #WhereIsPengShuai.

Simon said that the WTA and other world leaders need to see independent, verifiable proof she is safe. Simon wrote, “I tried repeatedly to reach her using multiple forms of communication to no avail.”

Peng (35), was the first Chinese player in the top 10 of the world rankings. She was number one doubles in 2014, and was named the best Chinese player. Peng won both doubles titles in Wimbledon 2013 and at the French Open 2014.

Zhang is now 75 and was Vice Premier between 2013 and 2018. He also served on the Politburo Standing Committee in 2012 and 2017.

Jessica Pegula (a top-20 American tennis player) tweeted, “I hope @WTA continue to show what we stand up for as players.” We are very fortunate to be able do what we do, but I wish more people, and not only tennis players, would shed light on this extremely concerning matter.