GABRIELA SABATINI is likely to announce her retirement from tennis at a news conference in New York tomorrow, according to the Argentine newspapers, La Nacion and Clarin. A joint statement from the Women's Tennis Association and representatives of Sabatini confirmed the 26-year-old would hold the conference at Madison Square Garden.

The decision by Argentina's most successful tennis player, who has won 27 tournaments, follows a run of poor results. Clarin quoted a family member as saying "there is a 99 per cent chance she will leave tennis." Sabatini, who began playing professional tennis in 1984, has won the US Open and reached the final at Wimbledon. The former world number three now ranks 29th.

"We have a very important announcement which will have a big impact in Argentina," La Nacion, quoted a Sabatini associate as saying from New York.