Serena Williams Skips Australian Open, Missing Another Major

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports Williams, 40, withdrew from her second straight Grand Slam, saying, “I am not where I need to be physically to compete.”https://nyti.ms/3ItdlLH

Putting Principles Before Profits, Steve Simon Takes a Stand

By BY MATTHEW FUTTERMAN from NYT Sports The WTA chief has spent years in tennis working quietly to put players first. Suspending tournaments in China over the treatment of star Peng Shuai has made him the most talked-about leader in sports.https://nyti.ms/31pchb5

I.O.C. Says It Held Second Call With Peng Shuai

By BY TARIQ PANJA AND ANDREW DAS from NYT Sports Olympic officials said they ‘shared the same concern as many’ about the safety of the Chinese tennis star but offered no details of what they discussed with her.https://nyti.ms/3dcsFxV

WTA Suspends Tournaments in China Over Treatment of Peng Shuai

By BY MATTHEW FUTTERMAN from NYT Sports Steve Simon said Wednesday that the women’s tennis tour would not stage tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, because he has been unable to communicate with Peng despite repeated attempts.https://nyti.ms/3D7BnrK

ATP Finals Create a Buzz in Turin, but Will Italy’s Players Follow?

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports Turin is a smaller stage than the prestigious event had in London, but the enthusiasm was real, especially for the young Italian stars Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini.https://nyti.ms/3r0LnR3

With a Second ATP Finals Win, Alexander Zverev Proves He Is Rising

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports This year gave the 24-year-old German star six singles titles, Olympic gold, an ATP Finals trophy, but also an ongoing tour investigation into allegations of physical abuse against a former girlfriend.https://nyti.ms/3cQiWNL

Zverev Shuts Down Djokovic, Will Meet Medvedev in the ATP Tour Finals

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports The world No. 1 is increasingly under threat on hardcourts from younger, taller players — like the two men who will play in the finals on Sunday.https://nyti.ms/3CESot7

Videos Said to Be of Peng Shuai Don’t Resolve Questions About Her Safety

By BY MATTHEW FUTTERMAN AND CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports The editor of a state-run newspaper on Saturday shared two clips said to be of the Chinese tennis star on Twitter. But they are unverified, and the head of the WTA called them “insufficient.”https://nyti.ms/3x7WuJ8

The Australian Open will require players to be fully vaccinated.

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports The rule casts doubt on the participation of Novak Djokovic and others.https://nyti.ms/3qWlj9Q

Concern and Anger Build Over Missing Athlete’s Sexual Assault Allegations

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports The case of Peng Shuai has prompted the women’s tennis tour to rethink its heavy focus in China, where it has threatened to pull events if it cannot verify that she is safe and that her allegations are investigated.https://nyti.ms/3nvIbLg

Concern and Anger Build Over Missing Athlete’s Sexual Assault Allegations

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports The case of Peng Shuai has prompted the women’s tennis tour to rethink its heavy focus in China, where it has threatened to pull events if it cannot verify that she is safe and that her allegations are investigated.https://nyti.ms/3kQ8NFa

Power, and Muguruza, Reign Supreme at WTA Tour Finals

By BY MATTHEW FUTTERMAN from NYT Sports The sport’s final tournament, an elite event for the best in the game, produced a veteran champion, and a glimpse of where women’s tennis is headed in 2022.https://nyti.ms/3Hy3iVe

Roger Federer to Miss Australian Open and All but Rules Out Wimbledon

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports Recovering from his fourth knee operation, Federer, at 40, has no illusions about winning a 21st major title. He wants to return for different reasons.https://nyti.ms/3ntz4KQ

Roger Federer to Miss Australian Open and All but Rules Out Wimbledon

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports Recovering from his fourth knee operation, Federer, at 40, has no illusions about winning a 21st major title. He wants to return for different reasons.https://nyti.ms/3Cs0mFY

WTA Tour Seeks Chinese Inquiry Into Player’s Sexual Assault Accusation

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports Calls for an investigation into allegations by the Chinese player Peng Shuai came with the threat that the tour might walk away from its deep ties to China.https://nyti.ms/3ooxt8A

Women’s Tennis Stages a Fitting Finale to a Zany Year

By BY MATTHEW FUTTERMAN from NYT Sports Favorites who were virtually unknown a year ago. Big names missing in action. And, as usual, a championship completely up for grabs.https://nyti.ms/3qzDpyg

WTA Tour Seeks Chinese Inquiry Into Player’s Sexual Assault Accusation

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports The head of the women’s tennis tour asked for a “full and transparent” investigation after Peng Shuai, a player, recently accused Zhang Gaoli, a former vice premier of China, of sexual assault.https://nyti.ms/30pO1EH

Novak Djokovic Gets His Groove Back in Paris

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports He bolstered his claim to being the best men’s player of this era by securing the year-end No. 1 ranking for a record seventh year.https://nyti.ms/3ER2kB6

Paula Badosa, Victoria Azarenka in Surprise Indian Wells Final

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports Many tennis stars have shut down their seasons or pleaded fatigue after a long year, but Azarenka and Badosa have thrived in the California desert.https://nyti.ms/3paN3qm

U.S. Open Stars Fall at Indian Wells, Which Struggles to Draw a Crowd

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports The tournament, the first major sporting event canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, was moved to October for its return, but attendance is down by half and atmosphere is lacking.https://nyti.ms/30rhq1t