As the only seeded local player in the forthcoming 2010 China Open, Li Na refuses to put herself under pressure and says she just wants to enjoy playing tennis.

"I will try my best to go as far as possible, but I will not set any goal for myself," the 10th-seeded Li told a press conference on Thursday. "I am not young any more. Enjoy tennis is more important for me."

After another Chinese star Zheng Jie has already withdrawn due to a wrist injury, expectations run high on Li, Asia's top-ranked player, to become the first local winner since the China Open was launched in 2004.

Li and Zheng both advanced to the semifinals of the Australian Open in January - the first time that two Chinese players had advanced to that stage of a Grand Slam. And Li also entered this year's U.S. Open with a Chinese best-ever world number nine ranking.

However, the early exit in U.S. open and withdrawl from the ongoing Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo led to a ranking slip for Li, who is now No. 12 in the latest WTA rankings. But the 28-year-old said she would be choked with pressure.

"I will not press myself too much to secure the top 10 ranking. I still need to compete in the Asian Games at the end of the year. To fight for my country is of great honor and importance to me. I will just try my best in every match, and I don't need pressure," said a relaxed Li.

Talking about her plan for next year, Li listed health as the priority.

"I know fans expect me to play better and get higher ranking. But you have to go through up-and-downs in your life, you can never always make progress," said Li.

"And I have to try to avoid injuries. As I am becoming older and older, I can not desperately train and play as before. I have to choose carefully to compete next year, and keeping health is the priority. No matter how perfectly you make your plan, a single injury may ruin it."

The China Open, a WTA Crown Jewel event, attracted nearly all the top stars in women's tennis, including Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki.

But world top ranked Senera Williams and newly defended U.S. Open titlist Kim Clijsters both pulled out due to fitness problems.

On the men's side, seven of the world's top 10 will be competing in the Chinese capital.

U.S. Open finalist Novak Djokovic will try to defend his title against British star Andy Murray, French Open runner-up Robin Soderling of Sweden, Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic and Russian veteran Nikolay Davydenko.

The China Open will take palce at the National Tennis Center from Oct. 2 to 10. The women's main draw gets under way on Saturday and the men's on Monday.

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