The governing body for women’s professional tennis is the WTA and yesterday it said it will not return to China this year because there has been no resolution with Beijing over Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai’s safety. There were concerns for her wellbeing when she disappeared from public life after making sexual assault allegations against a senior Chinese official last year. Peng later retracted her claims, but the WTA responded by suspending all of its tournaments in China in a move that is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars in broadcasting and sponsorship deals. WTA boss Steve Simon said the organisation has not had any “recent communication” with Peng, and the suspension will remain in place until a resolution is reached. And while we’re talking about tennis, Wimbledon organisers say COVID vaccinations won’t be mandatory for players at this year’s tournament. That means men’s world #1 Novak Djokovic will be free to defend his title.