CHINESE tennis star Peng Shuai has denied alleging that a senior Communist Party leader had sexually assaulted her and insisted she is living freely, in her first media interview since her claims triggered concerns for her safety.

But the comments did not ease worries at the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), which said it still has “significant concerns about her well-being and ability to communicate without censorship or coercion” today.

Peng had alleged that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli, who is in his 70s, coerced her into sex during an on-off relationship spanning several years in a post on Weibo last month.

However, she denied making the allegation in comments to Lianhe Zaobao, a Singaporean Chinese-language newspaper.

“I would like to stress a very important point: I have never said nor written anything accusing anyone of sexually assaulting me,” said the 35-year-old in footage filmed on a phone at a sports event in Shanghai yesterday.

“I would like to emphasise this point very clearly.”

The post was scrubbed from the Chinese web, but not before screenshots were posted on Twitter, setting off a global outcry.

The former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion then disappeared from public appearances for about three weeks.

The incident sparked international concern about her safety, including from the United Nations, the White House and fellow tennis stars.

In the Zaobao video, when asked about the Weibo statement, Peng does not deny the post, but said it is a “private matter” of which people had “many misunderstandings”.

She did not elaborate.

A person is heard asking if she is able to move around freely and if she has been under surveillance since making the accusations.

She responded that she has “always been very free”.

But the WTA said it is still not convinced of Peng’s well-being.

“We remain steadfast in our call for a full, fair and transparent investigation, without censorship, into her allegation of sexual assault,” said the organisation in a statement.

It has suspended all tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, over concerns about Peng. – AFP, December 20, 2021.