Chinese famous tennis player Li Na reacts during her retirement press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 21, 2014. China's first and only Grand Slam winner Li Na formally announced her retirement on Sept. 19, leaving Chinese tennis yearning for the next superstar. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)
BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's first and only two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na waved a tearful farewell to professional tennis here on Sunday two days after she posted a retirement letter on the internet.
Li was choked with emotions right after her opening remarks at her retirement press conference at Beijing's national tennis center "Diamond" where the China Open is slated for Sept. 21-Oct. 5.
"Thank you for you all coming here so I can have a chance to say goodbye face to face," the French Open and Australian Open winner said to a roomful of reporters.
Li already made known her retirement from professional tennis Friday through a letter on her personal microblog, a Chinese equivalent to Twitter.
She cited knee injuries as her reason in the letter to quit her 15-year career which brought her two Grand Slam titles to make her the first-ever Asian to achieve the feat as well as seven other WTA titles. She also made her way into the 2011 and 2013 Australian Open finals.
"I believe retiring as a world top 10 player is a rare choice, but my body can't bear the pressure of high-level competition any more so I made the decision last weekend," said the 32-year-old who just had the fourth knee surgery in July.
"It has been more difficult in making the decision than playing in a Grand Slam," she added. Li quit while her hometown Wuhan is holding the first ever WTA event.
Despite her reluctance to hang up her racket, Li was satisfied with her career.
"I am satisfied and proud about what I have achieved. It is the best time to quit because I don't have any regrets," she said.
Li's retirement will leave a huge hole for the Chinese tennis which is yearning for its next superstar.
But Li said she had faith in the future of the sport in China.
"I can tell you seriously that I am very optimistic about the future of the sport here," she said.
"Things are different now. Young Chinese players have more chances to face world-class athletes," she said.
Besides her faith, Li will actually do something to promote the sport. One of her plans is to open the Li Na Tennis Academy, which will provide scholarships for the future generation of Chinese tennis stars.
"I will try my best to promote tennis and help young players with my tennis school," she said.
Spending more time with her family will be another important thing to do after Li's retirement.
"I always felt bad for not being with my family and friends more. I will have some rest and spend more time with them in the next couple of months," she said.
As a happily married woman, Li also considered starting a family of her own.
"Children should be a part of my life and I want to have children," she said.
