Biden and UN urge China to prove Peng is safe

American President Joe Biden and the United Nations last night joined calls to establish the whereabouts of Peng Shuai as pressure grew on China to provide “verifiable proof ” of the player’s safety.

Peng has not been seen since she made allegations of sexual misconduct against Zhang Gaoli, a former vice-premier of China, on Nov 2.

Naomi Osaka, Andy Murray and Serena Williams have publicly raised concerns about her safety. Now the US government has made a surprising intervention. “We are deeply concerned by reports that Peng Shuai appears to be missing,”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. “We join in the calls for authorities [in China] to provide independent and verifiable proof of her whereabouts.”

Liz Throssell, spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights Office, said: “We would urge that there be an investigation with full transparency into her allegations of sexual assault.”

Meanwhile, Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley confirmed in Melbourne that unvaccinated players will not be allowed to participate in January’s Australian Open. “It is the one direction that you take that ensures everybody’s safety,” said Tiley, during a breakfast TV interview with Channel 9.

Tiley added that he was still expecting world No 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic to attend the event – even though that would require Djokovic to climb down from his sceptical position regarding vaccinations. “He has always said that it’s a private issue for him,” Tiley said.

Earlier, Djokovic had continued his progress through the ATP Finals in Turin by thrashing Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-1. He faces Alexander Zverev in tonight’s semi-final.