WUHAN, China, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na is likely to announce retirement very soon, sources told Xinhua on Thursday, one day before the Wuhan Open, a new tournament of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), kicks off in the superstar's hometown.
"If Li Na retires at this time, she will not play in the Wuhan Open or next month's China Open in Beijing," sources in her hometown Wuhan said.
"Her absence will be a great loss to the premier-level tournament, which is an ambitious, expensive undertaking for the city."
Speculation has been rife over Li's retirement since the 32-year-old pulled out of the U.S. Open and other hard-court tournaments because of knee injuries that flared up in July.
Thursday's media reports citing an anonymous insider said Li's agent company, IMG, would hold a press conference on Sunday to officially announce her retirement. The report also said she was unable to continue competing because of her physical condition and injuries in her both knees were getting worse.
The sports channel of CNTV also cited IMG as saying Li might make an official announcement on Friday via social media.
But Fabrice Chouquet, event director of the Wuhan Open, said he was unable to comment because the organizing committee had not received any formal information about Li's retirement.
"I know Li Na went to Shanghai and Germany in summer to have her knees treated. But I know nothing about whether she is retiring," said Ma Keqin, chief of Hubei Tennis Sport Management Center, a government-backed body in Li's hometown from which she still gets salaries.
"I felt sorry for her when she withdrew from the U.S. Open because her injuries must have been very serious. I know her well. She has always been tough since childhood. She will not quit unless there is no alternative," said Xia Xiyao, Li's coach in the 1990s.
"No matter what happens, I wish her healthy and happy," Xia added.
Li became one of China's biggest sports stars after she won the 2011 French Open, becoming the first Asian national to win a Grand Slam singles title. On the Chinese Internet, fans are starting to express shock and sadness at the unconfirmed reports.
"It's hard to say goodbye, but I will support whatever decision you make," a fan named "risu" wrote under Li Na's latest post on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like social networking site. Trying to urge the star to stay, lots of others left the same message which reads "Could it be after the Wuhan Open?"
The Wuhan Open is one of three WTA events in China new to the calendar in 2014, with 110 players expected to show up. The tournament will take place at the newly-built Wuhan Optical Valley International Tennis Center, the largest of its kind in China.
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