TEMPO.CO, New York - World's number 2 Li Na has announced pulling out of the Grand Slam US Open Tournament that has been held August 25 to September 8 in New York, United States, because of knee injury. The injury also keeps Li Na from appearing in two tune-up tournaments of Rogers Cup in Canada and Cincinnati Masters in the United States.
"Since March, I have been struggling with my knee and it is just not where I need it to be in order to play at the highest level," Li Na wrote in a post of her Facebook page. "My medical team has advised me that I need to take some time off to rest my knee so it heals."
Li Na, who played at recent Wimbledon tournament with right knee taped, said she was hoping to be back on winter tournaments in Wuhan and Beijing.
The decision becomes the first in five and a half years after the two-time major champion withdrew from 2009 Australia Open with the same problem.
Besides Li Na, tennis fans will also miss Rafael Nadal in hard-court events in Toronto and Cincinnati. The 14-time major champion announced on Wednesday that he hurt his right wrist in practice. However, Nadal still holds out hope of defending his title at the US Open.
WTA | AP | GADI MAKITAN