2014 Australian Open - Li Na
IN PHOTO: Retired tennis star Li Na REUTERS

World No. 6 Li Na is making headlines in the tennis rumour mill. The Chinese athlete is reportedly heading toward retirement after she has competed in the inaugural Wuhan Open or also known as the China Open.

According to the Beijing Hour, former professional tennis player and American sportscaster Mary Carillo has said that Li will be retiring from the sport after the China Open in early October.

The news trended on Twitter and some people jave criticised Carillo's remark about the Chinese athlete.

"Mary Carillo said today that she's expecting Li Na to retire from tour during this year's Asian swing. Say. It. Isn't. So." Based on what?

— Mark Nixon (@markalannixon) September 2, 2014

Interesting to hear Mary Carillo on US TV suggesting that Li Na will retire this year, a huge deal for China. — Mike Dickson (@Mike_Dickson_DM) August 31, 2014

Mary Carillo just said she thinks Li Na will be retiring some time during the Asian swing.

— Nick Nemeroff (@NNemeroff) August 31, 2014

Rare, but big, verbal error by Mary Carillo. Speaking of li na, says racket sports huge in japan. Li of course from china. — daniel kaplan (@dkaplanSBJ) September 6, 2013

Li won her second Grand Slam title at the 2014 Australian Open. She has not played since her third round exit in the 2014 Wimbledon Championships. Then, Li had to pull out from her ensuing tournaments due to a knee injury. She also parted ways with coach Carlos Rodriguez. Li's season has plummeted, dropping from her career-high No. 3 rank to No. 6.

In 2013, Li has reportedly entertained that idea of retiring from the sport during the 2013 Wimbledon.

Tennis great Martina Navratilova has shared her thoughts on Li's future in the sporting world of tennis in one of her promotional tours in August. Navratilova said that Li's main issue right now was her body. She added that Li has had a great start in her season after winning the Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific, but she was doubtful that Li's body will be fit enough for her to compete and play for the rest of year. Li approaches her 33rd birthday in February 2015.

"So she's had a great year, she won a slam which is amazing, but now she may not play the rest of the year, so it's up in the air for her," Navratilova said. "Game-wise, does she have a slam, yes, but is the body going to cooperate."

Li's injury, body performance, and early exits in major tournaments in 2014 has led to increasing assumption that she might be leaving tennis for good.

However, Li's fans can breathe a sigh of relief because their icon has no plans of going into retirement just yet. Li's agent Max Eisenbud has confirmed and told China Daily that Li was not retiring. Eisenbud is the vice president of International Management Group's tennis division. He also manages Maria Sharapova. He didn't further elaborate on the details.

Li will play at the 2014 Wuhan Open, which is held in her home city. The tournament will run from Sept. 19 to Sept. 27. Other confirmed participants include Serena Williams, Simon Halep, Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Maria Sharapova among others. The winner of the tournament will take home a total of $2.4 million prize money and 900 event points.

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