Menu
People and Pop Culture

Chinese Double Grand Slam Winner Li Na Retires From Tennis Due To Knee Injuries

China's first and only two-time Grand Slam winner LI NA "waved a tearful farewell to professional tennis" on Sunday "two days after she posted a retirement letter" on the Internet, according to XINHUA. 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." Li: "Thank you for you all coming here so I can have a chance to say goodbye face to face." She cited "knee injuries as her reason in the letter to quit her 15-year career." Li: "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" (XINHUA, 9/21). REUTERS' Sudipto Ganguly reported Li, known affectionately as "Big Sister Na" and "Golden Flower" in China, "skipped this year's U.S. Open, triggering speculation her dazzling career was drawing to a close." For many youngsters in China, "she is a role model, with her steely determination, broad smile and English language skills emblematic of a confident and rising country" (REUTERS, 9/21). The AFP reported Li said that she has "no regrets" about her decision to retire. Li: "I’m very satisfied with my tennis career." The event "was an emotional one both for Li and the nearly 200 journalists who attended her farewell." At one point, a Chinese journalist "raised his hand to ask a question, but then suddenly went silent before breaking down into tears." Li "responded with her characteristic wit." Holding out a tissue from her seat at the podium, she said, "Here, take this" (AFP, 9/21). In Hong Kong, Kevin Kung reported Japanese tennis player KEI NISHIKORI said that "he wants to become the man who 'leads Asian tennis'" after Li's retirement. The 24-year-old, who is at his career high eighth in the world, "is ready to become the face of Asia after Li gave in to long-term knee injuries." Nishikori: "I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so many amazing things for Asian tennis." Li earned more than $16M in prize money and "much more in endorsements and sponsorship." WTA Chair STACEY ALLASTER said Li was a "pioneer who opened doors to tennis for hundreds of millions of people throughout China and Asia" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 9/21).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2014/09/22/People-and-Pop-Culture/Li-Na.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2014/09/22/People-and-Pop-Culture/Li-Na.aspx

CLOSE