Beijing - One month after their match at Wimbledon in which newly crowned French Open winner Li Na lost to eventual semifinalist Sabine Lisicki in the second round, the two have set up another encounter.

However, for Li, this match will have nothing to do with revenge, but will be full of fun as part of the Li Na & Friends exhibition event to be held in Li's hometown of Wuhan in Hubei province from Dec 17-18.

Joining them will be 14-time Grand Slam singles champion Pete Sampras and former world No 1 Carlos Moya, who, like Li, won a Roland Garros singles crown.

"It has been an amazing few weeks since I won the French Open. As a Wuhan native, I love the city very much and I always cheer for myself in Wuhan dialect during the match," said Li, who received the title of "meritorious citizen" from the municipal government of Wuhan and prize money of 500,000 yuan ($ 77,339) on Saturday.

"I'm very glad to announce that the Li Na & Friends exhibition match will be held in Wuhan as a way to show my gratitude to the fans in my hometown."

With Wimbledon memories still fresh, Lisicki's said she is looking forward to playing against Li again.

"I am delighted to have been included in the Li Na & Friends event. Li Na and I had one of the best matches of Wimbledon 2011," said the German, who reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at the All-England Club.

"It is always a pleasure to play a champion - especially a reigning Grand Slam champion like Li, who is so friendly and professional and someone all of China should be very proud of."

Co-organized by the local government and IMG, the extravaganza will feature a singles match between Sampras and Moya, and a mixed doubles match, pairing Li and Sampras against Moya and Lisicki on Dec 17. On the second day, Li will play against Lisicki, who she narrowly lost to in London.

China Daily

(China Daily 07/11/2011 page24)