AFP

London, Jun 20: Defending champion Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon on Friday after losing his battle to fully recover from a knee injury in time for the
third Grand Slam of the year which starts on Monday.

"To not play Wimbledon is one of the toughest decisions of my career," said the Spaniard at a hastily-arranged news conference at the All England Club.

"I tried everything. I tried hard in the last week to get in the best condition and Friday's match (at an exhibition tournament at London's Hurlingham Club) was my last test. I didn't feel terrible but I was not at my best.

"I don't feel like I'm ready to play in a tournament that is as important as Wimbledon."

Nadal, the world number one, was forced to miss Queen's last week as a result of the problem, but the Spaniard flew to London this week after intense rehabilitation in Barcelona in a desperate bid prove his fitness for Wimbledon.

The Spaniard, winner of a thrilling five-set final against Roger Federer at Wimbledon last year, hoped that he would perform well enough in two exhibition matches at London's Hurlingham Club on Thursday and Friday to give him hope he could defend his crown.

But he struggled badly in Thursday's defeat against Lleyton Hewitt and, although he moved around court a little better, he suffered another loss to Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka 24 hours later.

The 23-year-old has been bothered by the problem for several years, a legacy of his all-action style and his love of clay courts.

He was well below his best at the French Open where he suffered his first ever defeat, crashing out in the fourth round to Robin Soderling.

After a three hour discussion on Friday with Toni Nadal, his coach and uncle, and Rafael Maymo, his physical trainer, he finally decided to rest rather than risk further long-term damage.

The reigning Australian Open champion will now concentrate on recovering from the injury in time to play in the US Open, which starts in late August.

"I am going to be out for a while, I don't know exactly how long but to arrive at two of the most important tournaments of the year, in Paris and Wimbledon and not be ready to play because of physical problems is very sad for me," Nadal said.

"I have some time now to recover and will work very hard to return as soon as possible."

Nadal will be the first champion not to defend his Wimbledon title since Goran Ivanisevic, who retired in 2002, a year after beating Patrick Rafter. John Newcombe and Stan Smith also didn't defend the title in the modern era.

With Nadal sidelined, Federer, the second seed and French Open champion, will be a clear favourite to regain the title he won for the fifth time in 2007.

Nadal, who has tendinitis and fluid on the kneecaps, had been handed a first round tie against France's Arnaud Clement in Friday's draw, with a potential second round clash against Australia's Lleyton Hewitt and a semi-final showdown with world number three Andy Murray.

Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, the fifth seed, moves into the slot in the draw vacated by Nadal.

Del Potro's place will be taken by the number 17 seed, David Ferrer. The 33rd player on the men's list will slide into Ferrer's position and a lucky loser from qualifying will fill the final slot.