Peng Shuai

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai said she never accused anyone of sexual assault, according to an interview published Monday, again walking back an allegation that sparked worldwide concern about her safety.

The former doubles world number one alleged in a social media post in November that former Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli forced her into sex during a years-long relationship.

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and first-time Grand Slam semifinalist Peng Shuai will meet for a place in the US Open title match after dominant victories on Sept. 2.

Wozniacki, the runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2009, dismissed 13th-seeded Italian Sara Errani 6-0, 6-1 and is back in the semi-finals of a major for the first time since the 2011 US Open.

ROME - Serbian female tennis player Bojana Jovanovski was ousted at the onset of the WTA Premier in Rome as she lost the Monday match to Sloane Stephens of the U.S., 2-1 (3-6, 6-3, 6-3).

In the second round of the tournament, Stephens will cross rackets with her compatriot Varvara Lepchenko who beat China's Peng Shuai with the convincing score of 6-1, 6-0.