China’s two-time grand slam winner Li Na is set to announce her retirement, according to widespread reports in her home country.
State broadcaster CCTV claims world number six Li, who won the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open singles titles, has chosen to hang up her racquet due to knee injury concerns.
CCTV cites unnamed sources as saying the announcement will come today. Li, 32, has not commented on the reports.
CCTV said on its micro-blogging site: “According to insiders who broke the news, Li Na, who won two women’s tennis grand slams, will officially announce her retirement publicly tomorrow (today).”
Li’s last message on Chinese social media website Weibo was sent on September 5, saying: “I love this job and am delighted for your encouragement, my career is the fight of my life, your encouragement is my greatest happiness.”
The world number six has not played since losing in the third round at Wimbledon in June to Czech player Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, sitting out the US Open.