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WTA presidency will be vacated by Simon in December.

Women's Tennis Association president Steve Simon, known for his strained relations with China, will step down from his position in December, as per the organization's announcement on Thursday.

, and ASMedia

2025 May 20 . 12:12 PM

2 min read

Women's Tennis Association president Steve Simon, who has faced strife with China during his term,... — Women's Tennis Association president Steve Simon, who has faced strife with China during his term, will vacate his position in December, as per a statement made by the organization on Thursday.

WTA presidency will be vacated by Simon in December.

Rewritten Article:

Steve Simon, head honcho of women's tennis since 2015, dropped a bombshell last autumn, announcing his departure from the organization. According to the WTA, a rigorous hunt is on to find his successor.

"To ensure a hiccup-free swap, the board will embark on a thorough talent hunt," the WTA stated in a press release.

Simon stirred quite a fuss towards the end of 2021 by halting all WTA tournaments in China following the mysterious disappearance of former world doubles No.1 Peng Shuai. Peng made a bold statement in November 2021, accusing a high-ranking Chinese Communist Party official of coercing her into a sexual relationship. She vanished from public view for several days, only to resurface in official media-released videos.

"Frankly, I can't in good faith ask our athletes to participate in tournaments when Peng Shuai's free communication seems restricted and she appears to be under pressure to withdraw her sexual violence allegations," Simon said at the time.

The WTA resumed staging tournaments in China in September 2023, despite the situation showing no signs of improvement.

In 2023, the WTA faced criticism and legal challenges from Ukrainian player Lesia Tsurenko over its handling of Russian and Belarusian players during the conflict in Ukraine. Tsurenko dropped out of a match against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA 1000 Indian Wells, citing a panic attack after a discussion with the head of the WTA.

"He claimed he was anti-war, but if Russian or Belarusian players supported it, that was their call, and I shouldn't let others' opinions bother me," Tsurenko voiced out, announcing in mid-April that she'd taken the WTA to court.

The WTA countered by affirming that it had "deplored the Russia-led war" and implemented numerous measures to support Ukrainian players.

As of the currentinfo, Steve Simon's successor remains unannounced. The WTA's relationship with China has been frosty since 2021 due to concerns over Peng Shuai's well-being. The organization, however, lifted the boycott in 2023 after receiving assurances about Peng's safety. The WTA, on the other hand, continues to deal with escalating tensions from Ukrainian players over the treatment of Russian and Belarusian players during the conflict in Ukraine.

News outlets in India and Ukraine have been closely monitoring the ongoing political tension between the WTA and China, as the organization's relation with the country has been strained since 2021 due to concerns over Peng Shuai's safety.
Meanwhile, sports-betting websites worldwide are following the ongoing legal challenge initiated by Ukrainian player Lesia Tsurenko against the WTA, regarding its handling of Russian and Belarusian players during the conflict in Ukraine.
In sports circles, the departure of Steve Simon, a key figure in women's tennis, has created a vacuum that the WTA is diligently attempting to fill through a rigorous talent hunt.
Recently, in a General News segment, Russia received significant attention, with the focus on the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine and the escalating tensions between Ukrainian players and the WTA over its treatment of Russian and Belarusian players.