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由于对中国球员彭帅的担忧，WTA在2021年底暂停在中国的赛事后，宣布在今年晚些时候重返中国。WTA曾呼吁对彭帅的性侵犯指控进行 "全面和透明 "的调查，这些指控在中国的网上很快被审查，并要求有机会与她直接对话。然而，WTA实际上已经眨眼了，因为这些要求不会得到满足，而且这一决定是为了组织的最佳利益。
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2019年，WTA曾在中国举办了9场赛事，约占其年度收入的三分之一。这些赛事中最重要的是在深圳举行的赛季结束的WTA总决赛，该赛事在2019年颁发了创纪录的1400万美元奖金。巡回赛将于9月恢复，有8场比赛，包括在郑州、北京、广州、南昌、香港和武汉举行的常规巡回赛；在珠海举行的WTA精英杯赛；以及在深圳举行的总决赛。
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自大流行病缩短的2020年赛季以来，WTA一直面临着重大的财政困难，但重返中国将支持该巡回赛的财政状况。WTA最近还宣布与全球私募股权公司CVC Capital Partners建立商业合作关系，该公司将对WTA进行1.5亿美元的投资。女子网球在中国的存在对女性体育也很重要，自从中国第一位大满贯单打冠军、女子网球明星李娜的成功后，中国的网球运动就在不断发展。
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彭帅在提出最初的指控后重新出现，并接受采访，声称她被误解了。WTA一直无法与她建立联系，但从她身边的人那里得到保证，她是安全的。尽管中国和西方之间的紧张局势不断加剧，但大多数WTA球员投票决定返回中国。
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WTA的立场得到了人权组织的赞扬，但一些网球官员认为他们要求中国进行调查的做法是过分的。人权观察组织敦促WTA坚定其停赛立场，并警告说，扭转这一立场将发出一个信息，即利润比维护人权更重要。
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西蒙说，他们已经尽了最大努力来取得成果，并确保彭帅的安全，但他们并没有能够完成他们想要的一切。他认为，人们理解他们承担了一个困难的问题，为了得到他们想要的结果，他们不得不不断发展。
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The WTA announced its return to China later this year after suspending events there in late 2021 due to concerns about the Chinese player Peng Shuai. The WTA had called for a “full and transparent” inquiry into Peng’s allegations of sexual assault, which were quickly censored online in China, and requested an opportunity to speak with her directly. However, the WTA has effectively blinked as the requests are not going to be met and the decision was made in the best interest of the organization.
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The WTA had held nine events in China in 2019, accounting for approximately one-third of its annual revenue. The most significant of those tournaments was the season-ending WTA Finals in Shenzhen, which awarded a record $14 million in prize money in 2019. The tour will resume in September with eight tournaments, including regular tour events in Zhengzhou, Beijing, Guangzhou, Nanchang, Hong Kong and Wuhan; the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai; and the Finals in Shenzhen.
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The WTA has faced major financial headwinds since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, but the return to China will bolster the tour’s finances. The WTA also recently announced a commercial partnership with CVC Capital Partners, a global private equity firm, which will make a $150 million investment in the tour. It is also important to women’s sports that women’s tennis have a presence in China, where the game has grown since the success of the women’s star Li Na, the first Grand Slam singles champion from China.
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Peng has reappeared after making initial allegations and has given interviews claiming she was misunderstood. The WTA has been unable to establish contact with her, but has received assurances from people close to her that she is safe. Despite rising tension between China and the West, the majority of WTA players voted to return to the country.
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The WTA received plaudits for its stance from human rights organizations, but some tennis officials believed they had overreached by demanding a Chinese investigation. Human Rights Watch urged the WTA to hold firm on its suspension, warning that reversing it would send a message that profit was more important than standing up for human rights.
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Simon said that they have done their best to get results and make sure Peng is safe and secure, but they have not been able to accomplish everything they wanted. He believes that people understand they took on a difficult issue and have had to evolve in order to get the results they want.