Serena Williams has spoken of her 'devastation and shock' as she urged an investigation into the disappearance of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai.
Fears continue to mount for Shuai, 35, who was once ranked as the top female double's player in the world, who has not been seen since accusing the country's former vice premier of rape on November 2.
23-time Grand Slam champion Williams, 40, publicly called on the authorities to launch an investigation into Shuai's disappearance and urged those involved to 'not stay silent'.
She tweeted on Wednesday: 'I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai. I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible.
'This must be investigated and we must not stay silent. Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time.'
It comes after Chinese state media published an English-language email they claimed was written by Peng which said: 'I'm not missing, nor am I unsafe. I've just been resting at home and everything is fine.'
Steve Simon, the head of the Women's Tennis Association, said he has a 'hard time believing' that Peng wrote the email herself and it 'only raises my concerns as to her safety and whereabouts.'
Simon said that nobody from the WTA has been in direct contact with Peng since she accused 75-year-old Communist party official Zhang Gaoli of coercing her into sex on Chinese social media two weeks ago.
23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, 40, publicly called on the authorities to launch an investigation into Shuai's disappearance and urged those involved to 'not stay silent'
Serena Williams has tweeted of her 'devastation and shock' as she urged an investigation into the disappearance of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai
Peng Shuai, 35, a Chinese tennis star, has not been seen since November 2 when she posted on social media accusing a senior Communist official of sexual abuse
Fears grew for her safety Wednesday as Chinese state media published what they claimed was an email written by her saying 'I've just been resting at home and everything is fine'
Social media users were quick to point out oddities with the 'email', including that it is addressed to 'everyone' despite allegedly being a private message and that a typing cursor appears to be flashing in the middle of the message - suggesting it is open in a word processor
'The statement released today by Chinese state media concerning Peng Shuai only raises my concerns as to her safety and whereabouts,' he said.
'I have a hard time believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email we received or believes what is being attributed to her.'
The email published by CTGN says: 'Hello everyone this is Peng Shuai,
'Regarding the recent news released on the official website of the WTA, the content has not been confirmed or verified by myself and it was released without my consent.
Peng claimed to have been involved in a ten-year affair with Zhang Gaoli (pictured), saying he sexually assaulted her in 2018
'The news in that release, including the allegation of sexual assault, is not true. I'm not missing, nor am I unsafe. I've just been resting at home and everything is fine.
'Thank you again for caring about me.
'If the WTA publishes any more news about me, please verify it with me, and release it with my consent. As a professional tennis player, I think you all for your companionship and consideration.
'I hope to promote Chinese tennis with
