Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
GUANGZHOU, China — British qualifier Harriet Dart beat Jule Niemeier of Germany 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the Guangzhou Open as elite women's tennis returned to China after four years. Tournaments were cancelled in China by COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2020. The WTA then suspended its events in the country in December 2021 over concerns about Grand Slam champion Peng Shuai's well-being after the Chinese player made sexual assault accusations against former vice premier Zhang Gaoli. The WTA announced in April that it intended to return to China this season after assurances were received from those close to Peng that she was safe and well, and that "more progress could be made" by returning to the country than by staying away.
