Peng Shuai is a Chinese professional tennis player who was rated No. 1 doubles by the WTA in February 2014. In August 2011, she was ranked 14th in singles. She has also won two singles and 22 doubles championships. At the 2010 Asian Games, she defeated Akgul Amanmuradova for the gold medal. Women’s doubles winner with Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei at 2014 French Open. Anastasia Myskina, Elena Dementieva, Kim Clijsters, Amélie Mauresmo, Francesca Schiavone, Jelena Jankovi, Agnieszka Radwaska, Marion Bartoli, and Vera Zvonareva are among her career victories. Her professional tennis debut came in 2001. She has been playing tennis since 1994. Carlos Rodrguez is her new coach. Her recent absence and censorship aroused widespread fears about her safety as she accused former top Chinese deputy premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault.
WTA investigates alleged Peng Shuai email
WTA boss doubts state media email was from Peng, who vanished after accusing WTA boss of sexual assault. The WTA has questioned an email claimed to tennis star Peng Shuai. She hasn’t been heard from since she accused a prominent Chinese official of sexual assault two weeks ago. In the email, Ms. Peng allegedly denies the charges. In a subsequent deleted post, she claimed she was “forced” into sexual intercourse with Mr. Zhang, who was Vice Premier from 2013 to 2018 and a close ally of Chinese President Xi Jinping. She hasn’t been seen or heard since. Osaka said on Twitter, using the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai: “I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but a fellow tennis player went missing immediately after announcing she had been sexually assaulted. Censorship is never acceptable.” WTA CEO Steve Simon’s comment: “The Chinese state media’s announcement today on Peng Shuai increases serious worries about her safety and whereabouts. I doubt Peng Shuai authored the email we got or thinks what is ascribed to her. Peng Shuai showed tremendous bravery in detailing a sexual assault complaint against a former Chinese government official. The WTA and the rest of the world require assurance she is safe. I’ve tried several ways to contact her without success. Peng Shuai must be free to talk without pressure or intimidation. Her sexual assault complaint must be acknowledged, investigated fully and without censorship. Women’s voices must be heard and appreciated, not silenced “.
Known For: Peng Shuai
- Being a Chinese tennis pro.
- Her double-handed play technique allows her to generate flat groundstrokes that catch opponents off surprise.
- Playing with both hands and hitting pretty flat.
Peng Shuai’s Origins
Peng Shuai was born in 1986. Xiangtan, Hunan, China Her ethnicity is Chinese-Asian. Her current age is 35 and her birthdate is January 8, 2021. Her zodiac sign is Capricorn and she is Christian. Her parents are Peng Jijun and Zhang Bing. Her legendary tennis instructor uncle and family members introduced her to the game. She began at the age of eight. Her father is a cop. Her siblings are unknown.
She graduated from China’s Renmin University.
Peng Shuai’s Tennis Career (2001-2021)
- Peng Shuai began her tennis career in June 2001, at the age of 15 years and 4 months.
- She won her first singles championship in Baotou, a $10,000 event, by defeating talented countrywoman Sun Tiantian 6–1, 6–4.
- In July, she won her second ITF competition.
- In October, she made her WTA Tour debut in Shanghai as a wildcard, losing to Tamarine Tanasugarn.
- In February 2002, she beat American Sunitha Rao in the final to win her third $10,000 singles championship in nine months.
- She won her first $25k championship at Jackson, beating Rika Fujiwara, Tatiana Golovin, and Christina Wheeler, among others.
- In December, she won her first $50k tournament and fifth ITF championship in Changsha, beating Yuka Yoshida, Yan Zi, and Zheng Jie.
- In February 2004, she lost her third $25k singles final against Czech Nicole Vaidisova in Columbus, Ohio.
- She lost in three sets against Ukrainian Yuliya Beygelzimer in a $50k tournament in Orange, California.
- She loses to top-20 player Vera Zvonareva in her maiden WTA Tour quarterfinal.
- In November (Shenzhen 2), she won her second $50k championship and eighth career ITF singles title, beating Chinese countrywomen Sun Tiantian and Zheng Jie.
- She finished the year 73rd.
- She reached her first WTA Tour quarterfinal in Sydney in January 2005. When Russian great Nadia Petrova quit from the quarterfinal, she was leading 6–3, 4–2.
- At the Australian Open, she beat Maria Elena Camerin 6–1, 6–2.
- In May, she lost a WTA quarterfinal in three sets against Marta Domachowska in Strasbourg.
- In August, she reached her first Tier-I semifinal in San Diego, beating world No. 6 Elena Dementieva, No. 26 Dinara Safina, and No. 7 Kim Clijsters in straight sets.
- She reached the WTA quarterfinals in Beijing and Guangzhou, where she lost to teen sensation Victoria Azarenka in September.
- In 2006, she lost her first-round matches in Sydney (to Ana Ivanovic) and the Australian Open, then withdrew due to illness.
- In February 2006, she lost to Sybille Bammer in the semis of the Tier-III Pattaya Open. She also beat Patty Schnyder in the third round of Tier-I tournaments in Toronto, Berlin, Indian Wells, and Charleston.
- A victory in doubles with Yan Zi in Guangzhou and one top-ten win gave her a 26–21 record in singles (against Mauresmo).
- Ana Ivanovic (#1) in the silver group semifinals on January 4, 2008.
- In 2008, she won the Tier-II Bangalore Open over Anne Kremer before losing to Venus Williams. But she won doubles alongside Sun Tiantian.
- To Nuria Llagostera Vives and Carla Suárez Navarro in the Fed Cup Semifinals.
- She lost to Alla Kudryavtseva in the third round of a Grand Slam.
- She defeated Eleni Daniilidou in the first round of the US Open but lost to Flavia Pennetta.
- In the second round of singles, she lost to Alizé Cornet.
- She beat Suárez Navarro in round one before falling to Alizé Cornet of France.
- Tarik Benhabiles would be her full-time coach for the 2009 season, she confirmed in early 2009.
- In the final, she and Hsieh Su-wei beat Nathalie Dechy and Casey Dellacqua.
- She won the doubles championship alongside Hsieh, beating fifth-seeded Daniela Hantuchová and Ai
- Sugiyama in two tough sets.
- At the US Open, she beat Jarmila Groth in straight sets but lost to Yanina Wickmayer.
- During the China Open, she overcame 2008 winner and former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovi but lost to Nadia Petrova.
- Her 2010 world tour started in Brisbane with a loss against gnes Szávay.
- In the third round of the Indian Wells Open, she lost to Nadia Petrova.
- She lost to eighth-seeded American Melanie Oudin in Ponte Vedra Beach.
- She then participated in the Charleston Cup, where she beat Shenay Perry.
- In the Estoril Open semifinals, she lost to Anastasija Sevastova in three sets.
- She missed the whole season due to sickness.
- She then lost to Christina McHale in Tokyo’s first round of qualifying.
She won a $100k ITF tournament in Taipei on the carpet. - In the team event, she won a gold medal with teammates Li Na, Yan Zi, and Zhang Shuai. She also won a bronze medal in doubles with Yan Zi and a gold medal in singles with Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan.
- Her 2011 season began at the Auckland Open. Despite beating Johanna Larsson 6–1, 6–3, she shocked No. 3 seed Kuznetsova after being down 0–3 in the third set. In the quarterfinals, she beat
- British qualifier Heather Watson but lost to No. 2 seed Yanina Wickmayer in 2 hours 53 minutes.
- She lost to Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the Hobart International.
- She then won the Pattaya Open against Chan Yung-jan and Elena Baltacha. In the quarterfinals, she lost to first seed Vera Zvonareva.
- She lost in straight sets against Marion Bartoli in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.
- She then won the Indian Wells Open, beating Renata Voráová in the first round, No. 7 seed Li Na in the third round, Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecká in the fourth round, and Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals.
- At the Miami Open, she beat Greta Arn and Aravane Reza, but lost to Alexandra Dulgheru.
- Shuai climbed to No. 30 and was seeded 11th in the Family Circle Cup in Charleston.
- She subsequently lost in three sets against world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki at the Brussels Open.
- After defeating Tamira Paszek of Austria in the first round, she faced Polona Hercog in the second round before retiring against Francesca Schiavone in the third round.
- She also lost in straight sets against champion Sabine Lisicki at the Birmingham Classic, Victoria Azarenka at the Eastbourne International, and Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon.
- She subsequently rose to world No. 14 before the US Open, when she was seeded 13th.
- Then she lost in the second round of the 2012 Auckland season against Lucie Hradecká.
- At the Qatar Open, she lost to Daniela Hantuchová in round 2. She next participated in the Malaysian Open, where she lost in a three-set thriller against Petra Marti.
- At Indian Wells, she lost to Ksenia Pervak.
- Then she lost in three sets against Maria Kirilenko at Wimbledon.
- She participated in the women’s singles and doubles events at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where she lost in the second round against Petra Kvitová.
- A new Shenzhen Open for Peng in 2013. She lost to Li Na in the semifinals.
- She lost in the second round of the Hobart International against Monica Niculescu.
- She later played in the Australian Open, where she lost in two sets against Maria Kirilenko.
- She lost to Sam Stour in Indian Wells and then Petra Kvitová at the Miami Open.
- She lost in the second round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
- In the Madrid Open, she lost to qualifier Christina McHale.
- She then went to Rome for the Italian Open and lost to Sam Stour.
- She then won the Brussels Open beating Sofia Arvidsson, Olga Govortsova, Sloane Stephens, and Romina Oprandi in the final. Kaia Kanepi beat her.
- At Wimbledon, she lost to Marina Erakovic.
- After that, she lost to Caroline Wozniacki in round one of the Western & Southern Open and the New Haven Open.
- At the US Open, she lost to Kuznetsova in round two.
- In the Asian swing, she lost to Johanna Konta.
- Her penultimate match of the year saw her lose to Lucie afáová, the fifth seed.
- In 2013, she won five doubles championships with her childhood friend Hsieh Su-wei, including two Premier-5 tournaments (Rome and Cincinnati), Wimbledon, and the WTA Championships.
- She also became the first Chinese player to win the WTA Tour Championships, joining Zheng Jie, Yan Zi, Sun Tiantian, and Li Na.
- She lost the Shenzhen Open final against Li Na. A round later, she lost to Kurumi Nara in the Australian Open. She also lost in three sets against Shahar Pe’er and Slvia Soler Espinosa in the doubles tournament.
- In the final of the Pattaya Open, she and Zhang Shuai beat Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova.
- In the final, Hsieh Su-wei beat Kvta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik.
- On February 17th, she became the first Chinese tennis player (male or female, singles or doubles) to achieve world No. 1.
- Aside from the two Premiere Mandatory tournaments (Indian Wells and Beijing), Peng and Hsieh also won the French Open.
- They then failed to defend their championship and lost their No. 1 ranking at Wimbledon.
- She then won the 125K race in Nanchang.
- On her way to the US Open quarterfinals, she defeated compatriot Zheng Jie, fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwaska, 28th-seeded Roberta Vinci, 14th-seeded Lucie afáová, and emerging sensation Belinda Bencic.
- She withdrew from the semifinal against 10th-seeded Caroline Wozniacki at 6–7, 3–4 down owing to severe cramping from heat sickness and had to be wheeled off the court.
- In the first round of the Wuhan Open, she fell to Mona Barthel, and in the China Open, she lost to third seed Petra Kvitová.
- In the Tianjin Open semifinal, she lost to Belinda Bencic.
- Peng and Hsieh upset Garbie Muguruza/Carla Suárez Navarro and Alla Kudryavtseva/Anastasia Rodionova in straight sets to reach the WTA Finals. Sadly, Cara Black/Sania Mirza won.
- Her 2015 season was marred by injury.
- She overcame German qualifier Tatjana Maria in the first round, followed by Magdaléna Rybáriková and Kazakh Yaroslava Shvedova in the second round.
- In the fourth round, she fell to second seed and eventual runner-up Maria Sharapova 3–6, 0–6.
- She lost in the first round of the Shenzhen Open and Australian Open to the 15th seed, Kimiko Date-Krumm and Casey Dellacqua, wasting a 6–4, 5–0 lead, two match chances in the second set, and three more in the third set.
- Shuai then played two additional tournaments alongside Kveta Peschke and Zarina Diyas, but failed to win a set.
- Her back and waist ailments forced her to terminate her 2015 season.
- At 2016, she returned to the tour in Indian Wells, but was eliminated early.
- In the first round of the China Open, she beat Venus Williams.
- With a wildcard, she won her maiden WTA singles championship in Tianjin.
- She had to play the final several hours after her quarterfinal win against 2014 winner Alison Riske.
- She also won the doubles final alongside Christina McHale.
- Peng Shuai lost his first match of 2017 against Katerina Siniakova. Then she lost to Eugenie Bouchard in the Australian Open.
- Then she lost to world No. 13 in Taiwan. Svitolina, E.
- In the third round of the Dubai Championships, she lost to Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia.
- She lost to Venus Williams, the 12th seed.
- Following an investigation by the Tennis Integrity Unit, she was banned for six months with three months suspended and fined $10,000 with $5,000 suspended for attempting to change her doubles partner by offering a financial reward in exchange for her partner agreeing to withdraw after the deadline had passed at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships.
- Next up was the Shenzhen Open, where she lost in the second round to eventual winner Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Allegations of Sexual Assault
- Pen Shuai accused Zhang Gaoli, a former senior Chinese vice premier and high-ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), of sexual assault three years earlier on her verified Weibo microblog account.
- She also claimed Zhang had an illicit affair with her.
- So the allegation brought the #MeToo movement to China.
- Her post was deleted from Weibo within 20 minutes, but screenshots were retained.
- She hasn’t used social media since her allegation on November 17, 2021.
- On November 14th, WTA CEO Steve Simon called on Chinese authorities to examine Peng’s claims and cease official Chinese censorship.
- The Chinese Tennis Association has confirmed to WTA that Peng is safe and secure. No one from the WTA, including officials and current players, could contact Simon directly to confirm her situation.
In a statement, ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi voiced grave worry about Peng’s safety and location.
He also said that he fully supports the WTA’s inquiry into Peng’s charges and that they would actively follow the issue. - On November 16th, tennis star Naomi Osaka tweeted about Peng’s location and her alleged sexual assault.
- After a day, the Chinese state-run media CGTN published an email purportedly sent by Peng to WTA CEO Steve Simon, in which she claims she is at home resting, that her sexual assault claim is untrue, and that she is not missing.
- Many questioned the email’s validity, pointing out that the image shows a typing cursor.
- Simon responded to the email by expressing his worry about her safety and whereabouts. Peng’s sexual assault accusation must be examined “fully transparent and without restriction,” he said.
Peng Shuai’s Relationship Status
Peng Shuai is still single. So she is now unmarried. She has been quite private about her personal life, therefore it is thought she is single now. Few details about her romances and indiscretions have been reported in the public. She seems to be focused on her profession and has no plans to marry or get into a serious relationship. Her personal relationships tend to be discreet. She is loving her current single life. She is a heterosexual woman. She now lives in Tianjin, China.
Peng Shuai’s Net Worth
Peng Shuai is regarded as one of the greatest athletes ever. Her total winning money is $9,617,653. Peng Shuai’s net worth is estimated at $5 million USD in 2021. Her major source of cash is her tennis profession and she now lives a normal lifestyle. Her precise yearly salary, income, and career earnings are still unknown, but her fans are certain that she is earning a good living from her current job.
Peng Shuai Body Measurements
Peng Shuai is a lovely woman. Her height is 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) and her weight is 67 kg (121 lbs). Her eyes and hair are both black. Her additional bodily measurements are unknown. Her physique is athletic and she takes care of it. She was diagnosed with an illness at the age of 13 and recommended to have heart surgery to rectify a flaw, as she recounted in Adidas’ Impossible is Nothing campaign.
Do you Know?
- Peng began playing at the age of eight.
- She won her first singles championship in Baotou, a $10,000 event, by defeating talented countrywoman Sun Tiantian 6–1, 6–4.
- Her sign is Capricorn.
- Carlos Rodrguez is her new coach.
- Women’s doubles winner with Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei at 2014 French Open.