WUHAN, CHINA: China’s two-time Grand Slam-winner Li Na is poised to retire, state media reported on Thursday, in a move which would bring down the curtain on Asia’s most successful tennis career.
The sports channel of state-owned CNTV cited Li’s agency, IMG, as saying the tennis star would hold a briefing on Sunday to announce the news, but also said she might make an official announcement on Friday via social media.
A separate report by CCTV-5, the sports channel of state broadcaster China Central Television, quoted unnamed insiders as saying Li, 32, will announce her retirement because of injuries on Friday.
“According to insiders, Li Na will officially announce her retirement on September 19,” CCTV-5 said on its verified microblog.
“She is reportedly retiring because she is unable to continue competing due to her physical condition,” it said.
The broadcaster did not give any details about its sources. An employee at the Beijing office of Li’s agency, IMG, told AFP that Li’s manager was in a meeting and unable to confirm.
CCTV-5’s report comes after web portal SINA Sports, also quoting unnamed sources, said IMG would hold a briefing on Friday to announce Li’s retirement.
The world number six won the Australian Open in January, but her season has been troubled by injury and she has been sidelined since late July with a knee problem.
She was ranked a career-high second in the world after January’s Grand Slam win, but has slid down to sixth after missing a string of tournaments including the US Open. In July, Li also split with her influential coach Carlos Rodriguez.
She initially planned to return at the inaugural WTA Wuhan Open, in her home city, which begins on Sunday.
Officials at the tournament remained tight-lipped on whether she would be playing, with one telling AFP there had been no official confirmation that she had pulled out.
