Li Na Retires From Professional Tennis, Will Hold Beijing Press Conference Sunday

Tennis star and Beijinger favorite Li Na has retired suddenly from professional tennis, citing a persistent knee injury, she said via her Weibo account.

The 32-year-old Wuhan native will make it official on Sunday at press conference in Beijing, the publisher of her autobiography, Penguin Group, said Friday by email, followed by an official retirement ceremony in Beijing on September 29, likely at the China Open, where Li was expected to begin playing next week.

READ: Li Na: "I'm Ready" for the Australian Open

Earlier this year, Li won the Australian Open, defeating Dominika Cibulkova for her second major title. Two months before that victory, Li told the Beijinger, "I'm ready," in an exclusive interview. Li also won the French Open in 2011, the first Asian woman ever to win a tennis major. However, Li's injury may explain her early exit from Wimbledon, when she was ranked number two in the world, her highest career ranking.

Li's departure may not leave a vacuum for Chinese players in top tennis. Earlier this month, Peng Shuai made the US Open semi-finals, her best performance to date at a major.

Photo: Source News Limited