Tennis Star Peng Shuai Denies She Made Sexual Assault Allegations: 'Many Misunderstandings'

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, whose well-being has been the subject of international concern for weeks, said Sunday that she never accused a former top government official of sexually assaulting her and that her previous social media post on the matter resulted in "many misunderstandings." 

Peng's latest statement comes a month after she first alleged she was sexually assaulted by former Chinese vice premier Zhang Gaoli in a post on November 2. That post was quickly taken down and censured by Chinese media, and little has been publicly heard from Peng since. World tennis bodies, human rights groups and various government leaders have since called for investigations into China's handling of the matter, along with proof that Peng is safe and acting out of her own free will.

"First, I need to stress one point that is extremely important: I have never said or written that anyone has sexually assaulted me, I have to clearly stress this point," Peng said in the new message posted Sunday by Singapore media outlet Lianhe Zaobao, according to Reuters.

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