Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai during the 2020 Australian Open in Melbourne. Photo: Bai Xue/Xinhua via Getty Images
Australian Open organizers on Tuesday reversed a ban on T-shirts supporting Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai following widespread criticism.
Why it matters: Tennis Australia's announcement came less than 24 hours after the governing body defended the decision to ask fans last Friday to remove "Where is Peng Shuai?" T-shirts, citing a ticket policy prohibiting political clothing, per the BBC.
- Among the biggest critics of the prohibition was tennis great Martina Navratilova, who called the ban "pathetic."
What they're saying: Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley told Australian media Tuesday that if someone wants to "make a statement" on a T-shirt about Peng, "that's fine."
- But he added that banners would still be prohibited, citing safety concerns.
The big picture: Peng is missing from Melbourne and there have been concerns for her well-being since the 36-year-old last November accused Zhang Gaoli, a former vice premier of China, of sexual assault.
- The former doubles world No. 1 vanished for several weeks before reappearing in public and saying her allegation had been a "misunderstanding."
- Concerns about her well-being remain, including from the Women's Tennis Association.