Swiss tennis star Martina Hingis has said that Li Na's retirement was a loss to world tennis, while also crediting the Chinese ace of raising the game's profile in her home country and across Asia. Hingis, who has bagged five singles and nine doubles Grand Slam titles, said that it is a sad day for Chinese tennis and for the global sport in general, after hearing about Na's decision during the WTA Pan Pacific Open.
Hingis, who beat Na in the 2007 Australian Open fourth round, said that she has good memories playing Na, Sport24 reported. Meanwhile, former world number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who was also playing in Tokyo, called the wise-cracking Chinese a big inspiration both on and off the court who would be missed in the locker room.
Hingis added that the retirement news was sad because the next WTA tournament was to be played in Na's hometown of Wuhan next week, immediately followed by the big-money China Open in Beijing. Hingis said that there is so much more tennis which has moved tournaments to China, adding that there has been development on the women's side of the tour to have the tournaments there.
The Women's Tennis Association upgraded the China Open in Beijing last year to become Asia's only event combined with a men's tour. The event is also one of the WTA's top four tournaments. Wozniacki, who lost to Na in the 2011 Australian Open semi-finals, said that the Chinese tennis ace is an unbelievable person, and added that she is so great as a competitor. The Dane also said that Na is so hilarious to be around so she is going to miss her in the locker room. Wozniacki said that what Na has done for tennis, not only in Asia but in the whole world, showing great sportsmanship, definitely it's something that is going to be very missed. But the straight-talking Dane also wished Na all the best in her great new chapter in her life.
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