After her victory over Tomova (6-3, 6-3), Alizé Cornet spoke regarding the two subjects that have been in the tennis section (and well beyond) in recent weeks. The French No. 1 did not wish to comment on her tweet of support for Novak Djokovic on January 16. “I know too little to judge the situation,” she wrote. What I know is that Novak is always the first to defend the players. But none of us defended it. Be strong @DjokerNole. »
The Niçoise on the other hand poured out on the case of Shuai Peng, whose fate in China has worried the international community for almost two months. “I know from a reliable source that she is not in physical danger, she explained. I’m worried regarding what she will become, how she will evolve following this. When will she be truly free? I know she’s pretty well. It’s not the big worry I had in November when I imagined her buried in a pit. We will say that his life is not in danger and given the circumstances, it is almost already reassuring. »
The fate of 35-year-old Peng Shuai became an international matter following she posted a social media post in early November in which she accused former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault, who was from 2013 to 2018 one of the seven most powerful politicians in China.
The message was quickly erased by Chinese censorship and the former world No. 1 in doubles had not appeared in public for several weeks, arousing the concern of the sports world, the UN and several countries including the United States and France. The WTA, which manages women’s tennis, has even decided to cancel all of its tournaments in China. Since then, the few controlled public appearances of the player had not been enough to reassure the world of tennis.
Cornet, however, regrets the low mobilization in the locker room and deplores the individualism that reigns on the circuit. “We don’t talk regarding it at all between us. There is not a player who has come to see me to talk regarding this. This case is at a standstill. You have to give time to time and not let go of the matter one way or another, she breathes. It’s tennis, it’s a very lonely world. We saw it with the story of Novak, everyone is a bit focused on their small business. It’s difficult to put in place a solidarity action when you have to defend other players. »
This immobility hardly surprises the Azurean, who is playing her 60th Grand Slam in a row in Australia. “I’ve been on the circuit for sixteen years, I know the rules,” she continues. Me, I was brought up like that but it does not surprise me and I can understand that there are people who are not invested, not concerned by others. In tennis, it is very recurrent. The main thing is that I continue to say what I think without being censored…”
