Li pulls out of Wimbledon

June 22, 2007 13:22 IST

Li Na, the first Chinese to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam at Wimbledon last year, has pulled out of this year's event because of injury, the Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) said on Friday.

The 25-year-old, China's best hope of a singles gold medallist at next year's Beijing Olympics, has been replaced as 18th seed by France's Marion Bartoli.

"She was injured in her rib region during [the warm-up event] in Birmingham," CTA said in a statement.

"Medical staff have suggested she stops all training and competition to rest and heal."

Zheng Jie, who won the women's doubles with fellow-Chinese Yan Zi at Wimbledon last year, had already been forced to withdraw from the tournament because of an ankle injury.

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