China's No 1 Li Na ruled herself out of playing at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 31-year-old said at the Australian Open yesterday.
Li, who missed out on a medal at the 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 No 4 Li said 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.
