World Number two and Chinese Tennis star, Li Na has revealed that she would miss the US Open, next month as she struggles with a knee injury.
Li Na, who also confirmed that she would miss out on WTA events in Montreal and Cincinnat, said that she was not in order to play at the highest level at Flushing Meadows, hence her decision to withdraw from the grand slam.
“I wanted to let all of my great fans know that unfortunately I am going to have to withdraw from the upcoming WTA events in Montreal and Cincinnati, as well as the US Open,” Li said in a statement on her Facebook page.
“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.”
The 32 year old who won the Australian Open earlier this year, her second Grand Slam after winning Roland Garros in 2011, has targeted a return to the court on home soil in late September.
“My medical team has advised me that I need to take some time off to rest my knee so it heals,” she said.
“I look forward to getting back on the court this fall in Wuhan and Beijing.”
Li was eliminated from this year’s French Open in the first round before bowing out of Wimbledon in the third round.
Top seed, Rafael Nadal had pulled out of the Toronto and Cincinnati Masters with a wrist injury on Wednesday, just over three weeks out from the US Open where he is defending champion.
Nadal’s participation in the grand slam is in doubt as he said he had hurt his right wrist in training and needed up to three weeks rest.
He missed seven months of action in 2012-2013 before making a blistering return with a successful defence of his French Open and capturing an emotional second US Open crown in September.
Nadal hasn’t played since his shock Wimbledon fourth round loss to Australian teenager, Nick Kyrgios, four weeks ago.
The US Open gets under way in New York on August 25.