Martina Navratilova says Tennis Australia is ‘capitulating’ to China over Peng Shuai

Tennis Australia has maintained Peng Shuai’s safety is its primary concern despite asking fans at Melbourne Park to remove T-shirts and a banner in support of the Chinese player. Photograph: Andy Brownbill/AP

Tennis great Martina Navratilova has condemned as “pathetic” the Australian Open’s decision to stop fans wearing ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ T-shirts, accusing Tennis Australia of “capitulating” to China.

Late last week spectators at Melbourne Park were asked to remove their T-shirts and security confiscated a banner emblazoned with the same words, on the grounds that TA prohibits “clothing, banners or signs that are commercial or political”.