Naomi Osaka is joining the growing calls of concern over the safety of tennis player Peng Shuai.
“I was recently informed of a fellow tennis player that has gone missing shortly after revealing that she has been sexually abused,” Osaka wrote in a post to social media.
“Censorship is never ok at any cost, I hope Peng Shuai and her family are safe and ok,” she continued. “I’m in shock of the current situation and I’m sending love and light her way.”
Shuai has not been seen in public since alleging that she was sexually abused by a top Chinese Minister on Nov. 2. She detailed the allegations in a now-deleted post uploaded to Weibo, a Chinese social media site. In the post, she revealed an on-and-off affair with Zhang Gaoli that later turned non-consensual.
On Monday, WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon issued a statement, calling the events “of deep concern” and calling for an investigation into the matter.
He also told the New York Times that several sources have assured that Peng is safe in China. However, no one associated with the WTA Tour — including officials and active players — has been able to contact her directly and confirm the reports.