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Li Na was treated to an emotional farewell in front of her fellow countrymen and women at the National Tennis Center in Beijing during the China Open.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":true,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":1,"title":""}
She had to wipe away tears as the ceremony unfolded just days after announcing her decision to quit tennis because of recurring knee problems.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":2,"title":""}
Some 40 WTA players attended the ceremony, including U.S. Open finalist and former world no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, who was similarly tearful.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":3,"title":""}
This year's Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was among those to talk at the event, paying tribute in her speech by concluding, "We will miss you, champion."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":4,"title":""}
As players like Jelena Jankovic bid farewell, a banner was unfurled saying: "Yes, this is Li Na's Motherland -- China".cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":5,"title":""}
The one-time world No.2 eventually managed a smile on a lap of honor as the crowd in the capital chanted, "Li Na, I love you."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":6,"title":""}
She will always be remembered as the first Asian player to win a grand slam title courtesy of her victory at the 2011 French Open.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":7,"title":""}
The 32-year-old doubled her grand slam tally at this year's Australian Open, which she admitted was a career high in her farewell speech.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":8,"title":""}
Accompanied by husband Jiang Shan, she was earlier giving flowers by 14-time grand slam winner Rafa Nadal, who earlier tweeted "I wish you all the best in your new life."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":9,"title":""}
Her career effectively ended at Wimbledon, her last tournament, before her retirement was officially announced on September 19.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":10,"title":""}HIDE CAPTION<<<
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10>>>Event.observe(window,'load',function(){if(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined'){cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image," Li Na: Tennis glitterati bid long goodbye to a great");}});STORY HIGHLIGHTSTennis says its goodbyes to Li Na in a tear-jerking ceremony in Beijing, ChinaRecurring knee injuries had forced the 32-year-old to call time on her careerWozniacki, Kvitova and Jankovic were among those to lead the emotional tributesWorld' No.2 Rafa Nadal came on court to present her with a bouquet of flowersEditor's note: Follow us at @WorldSportCNN and like us on Facebook(CNN) -- It was the long goodbye as China bid farewell to its sporting heroine in a tearful ceremony.
Li Na had announced last month at the age of 32 her career was over, that her recurring knee problems would keep her off the court once and for all.And at the start of the China Open at Beijing's National Tennis Center Asia's first grand slam singles champion was lauded by peers, Chinese celebrities and the wider public in a special ceremony.
In all, 40 WTA players were on court for the ceremony, which reached its climax as world No.2 Rafa Nadal, moments after winning on his own return from injury, presented the player with flowers alongside her husband Jiang Shan.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion had previously tweeted: "Congratulations for your career and I wish you all the best in your new life #LoveLi."
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Tennis: Li Na upsets Sharapova Li reached a career-best ranking of second earlier this year shortly after her victory at the Australian Open. She had previously become her continent's first grand slam winner at the 2011 French Open, one of nine WTA career singles titles.But having not played since Wimbledon, she decided to retire.
Now, she plans to start a family and also set up her own tennis academy but admitted: "I was sad because tennis was with me for 24 years".
Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic and Petra Kvitova were among the players on court to wipe away the tears, Wimbledon champion Kvitova leading the tributes.
"The most important thing I want to say is thank you for being our opponent, thank you for being our inspiration and thank you for being our friend. We will miss you, champion," said Kvitova.
WTA chairman Stacey Allaster also paid tribute adding: "You're a true champion and pioneer, who has made such a difference in so many people's lives. You are the player of this decade, who has made the most impact and growth on women's tennis."
Read: Chinese trailblazer retires at age of 32
.OB_SB_1, .OB_SB_2 { padding:0px; }#outbrain_container_1_stripBox .strip-like, #outbrain_container_2_stripBox .strip-like { font-size:18px; }#ob_strip_container_rel_1_stripBox { }#ob_strip_container_rel_1_stripBox .item-container, #ob_strip_container_rel_2_stripBox .item-container { padding-top:8px;border-top:1px solid #E5E5E5; }.ob_box_cont ul li { display:block; height:60px; list-style-type:none; padding-top:8px; padding-bottom:7px; position:relative; width:100%; border-top:1px solid #E5E5E5}.ob_box_cont ul li .ob-rec-link-img {float:left;}.ob_box_cont ul li .ob-rec-link-img a {display: block; float: left; height: 50px; padding: 3px; position: relative; width: 90px;}.ob_box_cont ul li .ob-text-content {padding-left:105px;}.ob_box_cont ul li .ob-text-content a {font:bold 12px/15px arial !important;}.ob_box_cont ul li .ob-rec-link-img a .ob_video {position:absolute; top:5px; left:5px;}Part of complete coverage on TennisWhat does 2015 hold for Rafa?December 16, 2014 -- Updated 1208 GMT (2008 HKT)
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