Rafael Nadal out of Wimbleldon - knee injury causes withdrawal

Posted on 2009-06-19

World number one Rafael Nadal will not defend his Wimbledon men's singles crown because of a knee injury.

Nadal, struggling with tendinitis, tested out his fitness in exhibition matches on Thursday and Friday, but was unhappy with the state of his knee.

"Not to play Wimbledon is one of the toughest decisions in my career," said the 23-year-old Mallorcan. "I've played with some problems in my knees for a few months but I always felt I'd try and try," added Nadal. "You don't know what your limit is, but I have now reached the limit".

But the world number one insisted the tendinitis was not career threatening.

Nadal is the first champion not to defend his SW19 crown since Goran Ivanisevic missed the event in 2002.

 

Sourced From : BBC sport