There will be no World Tennis Tour events held in China in 2022, an International Tennis Federation (ITF) source confirmed to Reuters on Thursday. The source did not say if the move was linked to concerns over the health and safety of doubles star Peng Shuai. In the last full season in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, China hosted about 25 ITF women’s and 15 men’s events.

World Tennis Tour events are professional tournaments below the elite level. The ITF Women`s World Tennis Tour offers approximately 500 tournaments across 65 countries offering prize money from $15,000 to $100,000. 
"No men’s or women’s ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments are scheduled to be played in China in 2022," an ITF source told Reuters without providing any further details.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/peng-shuai-row-china-hits-back-at-wta-for-politicising-sport-after-it-suspends-all-tournaments-in-country-433494">Peng Shuai row: China hits back at WTA for 'politicising sport' after it suspends all tournaments in country</a>

The ITF gave no reason for the decision but it follows the Women`s Tennis Association`s (WTA) move to suspend tournaments in China following Peng`s accusations of sexual assault against a former vice premier. Peng, a former doubles world number one, was unseen in public for nearly three weeks after she posted a message on social media in November accusing China`s former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli of forcing her into sex, with her whereabouts becoming a matter of international concern.

Unlike the WTA, the ITF does not have major professional tournaments in China and is more focused on grassroots development events.

There will be no World Tennis Tour events held in China in 2022, an International Tennis Federation (ITF) source confirmed to Reuters on Thursday. The source did not say if the move was linked to concerns over the health and safety of doubles star Peng Shuai.

There will be no World Tennis Tour events held in China in 2022, an International Tennis Federation (ITF) source confirmed to Reuters on Thursday. The source did not say if the move was linked to concerns over the health and safety of doubles star Peng Shuai. In the last full season in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, China hosted about 25 ITF women’s and 15 men’s events. World Tennis Tour events are professional tournaments below the elite level. The ITF Women`s World Tennis Tour offers approximately 500 tournaments across 65 countries offering prize money from $15,000 to $100,000. "No men’s or women’s ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments are scheduled to be played in China in 2022," an ITF source told Reuters without providing any further details. ALSO READ | Peng Shuai row: China hits back at WTA for 'politicising sport' after it suspends all tournaments in country The ITF gave no reason for the decision but it follows the Women`s Tennis Association`s (WTA) move to suspend tournaments in China following Peng`s accusations of sexual assault against a former vice premier. Peng, a former doubles world number one, was unseen in public for nearly three weeks after she posted a message on social media in November accusing China`s former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli of forcing her into sex, with her whereabouts becoming a matter of international concern. Unlike the WTA, the ITF does not have major professional tournaments in China and is more focused on grassroots development events.

Peng Shuai row? No World Tennis Tour events in China in 2022, confirms ITF source

Novak Djokovic has been central to widespread criticism for organising the Adria Tour after which several tennis players along with Djokovic and his wife were tested positive for coronavirus. Since then, Djokovic has issued a heartfelt apology while stating his intentions behind hosting the events were pure.

But things took a turn when Djokovic’s father blamed Grigor Dimitrov, who was also tested positive for COVID-19, for spreading the dreaded virus into the tennis world. Stefan Tzvetkov, president of Sophia Open in Bulgaria and a member of ITF board, has slammed Djokovic’s father while saying the allegations on Dimitrov were ‘unjustifiable’.&nbsp;

The Bulgarian star, who flew in from the US, was one of the first players to have tested positive for coronavirus with the likes of Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki following suit.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/novak-djokovics-faulty-serve-to-the-tennis-world-308282">Novak Djokovic's faulty serve to the tennis world</a>

During the tour, players were seen partying in a nightclub in Belgrade, another move which was severely criticized by many and all.

Speaking to French sports newspaper L'Équipe, Stefan said:

"For me, it is shameful. The Serbs are our brothers in the Balkans and our neighbours, but Srdjan Djokovic, once again, is sending the wrong message to the whole world and I will say that this is unjustifiable behaviour. I do not know all the facts of this case, but this must stop.

“Novak Djokovic made a mistake in analysis. He can apologize, stick to the facts, but no one should accuse others. Point the finger at people, first Federer, now Grigor, this is totally unacceptable. And I say as a member of the ITF board, we have to stop this. Because the signal sent to children, to parents, is not the right one.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/man-city-did-not-match-liverpools-passion-says-guardiola-308718" hreflang="en">Man City did not match Liverpool's passion, says Guardiola</a>

"For too long, Srdjan has been accusing, talking about others in a bad way and this should not be tolerated by the tennis world."

Currently, the world No. 1 and his wife Jelena are in self-isolation in Belgrade after testing positive for coronavirus 
&nbsp;

Novak Djokovic has been central to widespread criticism for organising the Adria Tour after which several tennis players along with Djokovic and his wife were tested positive for coronavirus.

Novak Djokovic has been central to widespread criticism for organising the Adria Tour after which several tennis players along with Djokovic and his wife were tested positive for coronavirus. Since then, Djokovic has issued a heartfelt apology while stating his intentions behind hosting the events were pure. But things took a turn when Djokovic’s father blamed Grigor Dimitrov, who was also tested positive for COVID-19, for spreading the dreaded virus into the tennis world. Stefan Tzvetkov, president of Sophia Open in Bulgaria and a member of ITF board, has slammed Djokovic’s father while saying the allegations on Dimitrov were ‘unjustifiable’. The Bulgarian star, who flew in from the US, was one of the first players to have tested positive for coronavirus with the likes of Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki following suit. ALSO READ: Novak Djokovic's faulty serve to the tennis world During the tour, players were seen partying in a nightclub in Belgrade, another move which was severely criticized by many and all. Speaking to French sports newspaper L'Équipe, Stefan said: "For me, it is shameful. The Serbs are our brothers in the Balkans and our neighbours, but Srdjan Djokovic, once again, is sending the wrong message to the whole world and I will say that this is unjustifiable behaviour. I do not know all the facts of this case, but this must stop. “Novak Djokovic made a mistake in analysis. He can apologize, stick to the facts, but no one should accuse others. Point the finger at people, first Federer, now Grigor, this is totally unacceptable. And I say as a member of the ITF board, we have to stop this. Because the signal sent to children, to parents, is not the right one. ALSO READ: Man City did not match Liverpool's passion, says Guardiola "For too long, Srdjan has been accusing, talking about others in a bad way and this should not be tolerated by the tennis world." Currently, the world No. 1 and his wife Jelena are in self-isolation in Belgrade after testing positive for coronavirus

ITF official slams Novak Djokovic's father for accusing Grigor Dimitrov of spreading COVID-19 into tennis world

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Peng Shuai row? No World Tennis Tour events in China in 2022, confirms ITF source

ITF official slams Novak Djokovic's father for accusing Grigor Dimitrov of spreading COVID-19 into tennis world