As The Peng Shuai Situation Continues To Unfold, All The ATP Could Do Was Issue a Pathetic Statement Just a Day After The WTA Pulled Out Of Every Future Event In China

Xinhua News Agency. Getty Images.

Just a day after the Women's Tennis Association responded to the ongoing Peng Shuai situation by suspending all future events in China, the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals aka the men's side) issued this statement. 

That's it, that's the whole thing. No other plan or directive was put in place, just a statement of some meaningless words. Keep in mind the WTA's decision to pull out of China is potentially a billion dollar move in the long run. It's one thing to talk the talk about how you disagree with everything going on, but to walk the walk is a whole different ballgame. What Steve Simon (the WTA CEO) did on Wednesday was bold as shit as he actually showed someone has the balls to stand up against China. Until there is definitive proof to them that Peng Shuai is safe they aren't playing there. You'd think the ATP would align the same way and stand strong. Nope, just a few sentences. 

Notice how in the ATP's world salad they didn't even have the cojones to type the word 'China.' I really thought there was a chance they were going to follow suit and suspend their events as well. That would have been a huge fucking deal and a real statement from the sport. Nope, just a 101 word press release that really said absolutely nothing. Simply saying something to just say something. 

Former grand slam champion Andy Roddick didn't care for it at all. 

Same feelings were felt with current American player Reilly Opelka. 

But have no fear, the definitely NOT corrupt IOC held a second call with Peng Shuai. She's fine per the people who are doing everything in their power to make sure the Beijing Olympics go off without a hitch. Nothing to see here!

Just disregard the fact that none of her friends and family can contact her. Dick Pound and IOC got it all under control. Totally normal stuff going on clearly. 

Seriously though, I hope the ATP does something more to further unite with the WTA's efforts. That statement was trash. I'm not really into comparing statements because at the end of the day they're just words, but the action the WTA took compared to the ATP was extremely distinguishable. How are you going to have events in China while this goes on as the WTA is suspending everything? Feels like that can't happen, no matter how much money is being lost. Most importantly I hope we get some real proof soon that she's truly safe. It feels like the only way to do that is to have her get out of the country and make contact with the WTA. Anything but this IOC crap that they keep trying to feed everyone. That's not anywhere near enough.