Li Na retires
BEIJING -- Li Na, a two-time Grand Slam champion from China who took tennis in Asia to a new level, has retired due to recurring knee injuries.
Li, 32, posted a statement on social media sites Friday, ending a week of intensifying speculation that she would announce her retirement ahead of the new WTA tournament at Wuhan, her hometown.
The WTA, which runs women's tennis, has described Li as a trailblazer and credits her with being the first player from Asia to win a major title -- she won the 2011 French Open, beating four top-10 players in succession to wrap up the title -- a few months after becoming the first from the region to reach a Grand Slam final, which she did at the 2011 Australian Open.
She clinched the Australian Open title this past January, in her third trip to the final at Melbourne Park, to reach a career-high No. 2 ranking, another continental milestone.
http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/11550687/li-na-retires-professional-tennis-citing-recurring-knee-problem
Too bad...I recall a few months ago reading Martin Navratilova saying she didn't think Li would ever return and play...guess she was coaching her...good luck for the future!
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