WEBVTT FILE
X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=MPEGTS:0,LOCAL:00:00:00.000

1
00:00:01.950 --> 00:00:04.830
- The head of the world body
for women's tennis says

2
00:00:04.830 --> 00:00:06.750
he's even more worried
about the welfare

3
00:00:06.750 --> 00:00:09.900
of Chinese player Peng Shuai
after Chinese state

4
00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:13.010
media published
an email it says is from her.

5
00:00:13.010 --> 00:00:16.060
The 35-year-old tennis star
has not been seen in public

6
00:00:16.060 --> 00:00:18.220
since she alleged
on social media

7
00:00:18.220 --> 00:00:23.240
that former Chinese vice premier
Zhang Gaoli coerced her into sex

8
00:00:23.240 --> 00:00:26.820
and that they later had an
on-off consensual relationship.

9
00:00:26.820 --> 00:00:28.970
On Wednesday, Chinese
state-affiliated

10
00:00:28.970 --> 00:00:32.220
media outlet CGTN
released on Twitter

11
00:00:32.220 --> 00:00:34.790
what it said was an email
Peng had sent the chairman

12
00:00:34.790 --> 00:00:38.550
of the Women's
Tennis Association, Steve Simon.

13
00:00:38.550 --> 00:00:40.900
In the email, Peng says
the allegation of assault

14
00:00:40.900 --> 00:00:42.260
was untrue,

15
00:00:42.260 --> 00:00:45.880
but Simon has been quick
to cast doubt on its validity.

16
00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:48.160
In a written statement,
he said that,

17
00:00:48.160 --> 00:00:50.680
"The statement released today
by Chinese state media

18
00:00:50.680 --> 00:00:54.120
concerning Peng Shuai
only raises my concerns

19
00:00:54.120 --> 00:00:56.640
as to her safety
and whereabouts."

20
00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:59.230
I have a hard time believing
that Peng Shuai

21
00:00:59.230 --> 00:01:01.590
actually wrote
the email we received

22
00:01:01.590 --> 00:01:04.720
or believes what is being
attributed to her."

23
00:01:04.720 --> 00:01:08.410
The email which CGTN attributes
to Peng says,

24
00:01:08.410 --> 00:01:10.980
"I'm not missing,
nor am I unsafe.

25
00:01:10.980 --> 00:01:14.600
I've just been resting at home
and everything is fine."

26
00:01:14.600 --> 00:01:16.880
China State Council Information
Office

27
00:01:16.880 --> 00:01:18.890
and the Chinese
Tennis Association

28
00:01:18.890 --> 00:01:21.790
did not immediately respond
to our requests for comment.

29
00:01:21.790 --> 00:01:24.470
Neither did a representative
for Peng.

30
00:01:24.470 --> 00:01:27.780
On Thursday, China's foreign
ministry was dismissive

31
00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:29.890
when asked about the email.

32
00:01:29.890 --> 00:01:32.080
- This is not a foreign
affairs matter,

33
00:01:32.080 --> 00:01:34.190
and I'm not aware
of the relevant situation

34
00:01:34.190 --> 00:01:35.640
you mentioned.

35
00:01:35.640 --> 00:01:37.170
- Peng was the first
Chinese player

36
00:01:37.170 --> 00:01:38.790
to top the world rankings

37
00:01:38.790 --> 00:01:42.110
when she was doubles
number one in 2014.

38
00:01:42.110 --> 00:01:44.180
Zhang, who is 40 years
her senior,

39
00:01:44.180 --> 00:01:48.240
was a vice premier
between 2013 and 2018.