China`s Li rules herself out of the 2016 Olympics

Melbourne: China`s number one Li Na has ruled herself out of playing at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 31-year-old said at the Australian Open on Friday.

Li, who narrowly missed out on a medal at her home Beijing Games in 2008 when she lost the bronze decider to Russia`s Vera Zvonareva, crashed out in the first round at the 2012 London Games. "I think it`s time for younger players to have a chance at the Olympics," world number four Li told reporters in Mandarin at Melbourne Park after advancing to the fourth round with a hard-fought win over Czech Lucie Safarova. "I don`t think I`ll be playing at the Olympics. As far as I`m concerned, the Olympics are too far away." Asia`s first grand slam singles champion, the 2011 French Open winner has been a reluctant standard-bearer for Chinese tennis in the past and reacted furiously in 2012 when her country`s tennis administration entered her to play Olympic doubles with Zhang Shuai at London without consulting her. The pair lost in the second round. Li clashed with her Chinese officialdom for a number of years over training, coaching and pay early in her career before being one of only a handful of top local players permitted to manage her own team and schedule. Since breaking away from the state in 2009, Li won a grand slam title and reached two further finals at the Australian Open, including last year`s runner-up finish behind double defending champion Victoria Azarenka. Fourth seed Li will play Russia`s Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday.