BEIJING - 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 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 rib1 region during in Birmingham, the Chinese Tennis Association 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.
