Steffi Graf dismissed speculation of her retirement yesterday as she sets her sights on adding to the 21 Grand Slam titles amassed during her glittering 17-year career. The 29-year-old German legend, in Hong Kong for an exhibition event, rejected talk of retirement and said her series of lengthy injury lay-offs had rekindled her love for the game.

Asked if she was aware of the rumours that she may retire, Graf said: "I haven't heard that. It's not true. It's news to me. I still love the game very much."

Now fully recovered from an injury to her right wrist which interrupted her season last year, Graf is looking forward to the buzz of taking part in Grand Slam events in 1999.

"I still enjoy it so much. That's why I'm still around," she added. "After the operation on my knee in 1997 I was out for something like five months. At first I didn't miss playing that much because it was nice to have some time away with friends, but when I started playing again I realised how much it meant to me, and how much I enjoy playing," added Graf.

Graf joins Venus and Serena Williams and Russia's Anna Kournikova in the eight-player Hong Kong event.