Li backs Pennetta over 'great' retirement choice

Chinese icon Li Na on Monday said Flavia Pennetta had made a "great choice" by going out on top after she announced her retirement in the moments following her US Open victory.

Li quit last September when she was the reigning Australian Open champion, and she said she well understood the decision of her fellow 33-year-old to say goodbye to her career.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Li, who became a mother this year, spoke with Pennetta at the WTA Finals in Singapore and she said the Italian wasn't wavering about retiring.

"I was just asking her, '(Did) you change your mind? She was like, 'No. Never. Done.' I was like, yeah, I understand, we are (the) same age. I know how tough (life is) on the tour, like over 10 years," Li told reporters in Singapore.

"You know, tennis is a job. It's part of life. You have to find the... real life or family. For this age, I think she will (be) doing (a) great choice," she added.

Last month, Pennetta stunned the crowd in New York when she announced her retirement immediately after beating fellow Italian Roberta Vinci to win her first major title.

Pennetta's retirement could still be interrupted by next year's Olympics, when she has admitted she may be tempted to make a brief comeback.

Pennetta lost her WTA Finals opener 6-0, 6-3 to Simona Halep and Li said debutante Garbine Muguruza, who beat Lucie Safarova 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), was one player who had impressed her this year.

"I think because she plays more aggressive and is young and talented," said Li of the imposing Spaniard.

Source: AFP