Rafael Nadal a major doubt for Wimbledon
Roger Federer's quest to surpass Pete Sampras and win a 15th Grand Slam could be over next month, given news that Rafael Nadal might not be able to defend his Wimbledon title. The Spaniard is set to announce on June 9 whether he will be physically fit to play in England.
Nadal withdrew on June 5 from next week’s grass-court tournament at Queen’s Club due to a knee injury, Reuters reported.
"We will see on Monday or Tuesday," Nadal's coach, Toni Nadal, said on French radio RMC, as quoted by Reuters. "We will go to Barcelona to see what the problem is. I am not too optimistic."
The Spaniard beat Federer in last year's final, billed by many as the greatest Wimbledon final in history, but his own bid to become the first man to win five French Open titles was unsuccessful when he lost to Sweden's Robin Soderling in the fourth round of this year's tournament.
Speaking about his withdrawal from Queen's, Nadal said: "I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees that did not allow me to compete always at 100 per cent.
"I need to work with my team to recover well, work on my physical condition to be at my top form and get ready for the grass to play at Wimbledon. I hope I can be ready to compete by then," the BBC quoted him as saying.
Nadal withdrew on June 5 from next week’s grass-court tournament at Queen’s Club due to a knee injury, Reuters reported.
"We will see on Monday or Tuesday," Nadal's coach, Toni Nadal, said on French radio RMC, as quoted by Reuters. "We will go to Barcelona to see what the problem is. I am not too optimistic."
The Spaniard beat Federer in last year's final, billed by many as the greatest Wimbledon final in history, but his own bid to become the first man to win five French Open titles was unsuccessful when he lost to Sweden's Robin Soderling in the fourth round of this year's tournament.
Speaking about his withdrawal from Queen's, Nadal said: "I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees that did not allow me to compete always at 100 per cent.
"I need to work with my team to recover well, work on my physical condition to be at my top form and get ready for the grass to play at Wimbledon. I hope I can be ready to compete by then," the BBC quoted him as saying.