Rafa Nadal unlikely to defend Wimbledon title
World number one and defending Wimbledon Champions, Rafael Nadal will take a final decision late on Friday, June 19 if he will be able to defend his title this year but, according to reports, his knees are far from fully recovered and time is running out.
The player has been hard hit by recurring knee problems. He visibly struggled with his movement during an exhibition match in London on June 18 against Lleyton Hewitt, which the Spaniard lost, 6-4 6-3.
According to latest medical reports, he is unlikely to play in Wimbledon unless there is a 'radical' improvement in his condition, so making the Spaniard the fourth man in the history of modern tennis not to defend his title at the All England Club.
Nadal was struck by tendinitis in both knees, a chronic injury that caused his sudden exit in the French Open fourth round last month, a tournament won by arch rival Roger Federer. According to the UK's Guardian, he is to undergo an exhibition match on Saturday, June 20, but coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, said that he expects the worst.
"At the moment it's very difficult to play at Wimbledon. His knees are not good and he cannot bend," he said. "This is his first match, we wait."
Meanwhile Nadal has spoken of the match on June 20 as "the real test".
"I will come back and play again and then make my decision about playing at Wimbledon or not," he said, as quoted by the BBC.
The player has been hard hit by recurring knee problems. He visibly struggled with his movement during an exhibition match in London on June 18 against Lleyton Hewitt, which the Spaniard lost, 6-4 6-3.
According to latest medical reports, he is unlikely to play in Wimbledon unless there is a 'radical' improvement in his condition, so making the Spaniard the fourth man in the history of modern tennis not to defend his title at the All England Club.
Nadal was struck by tendinitis in both knees, a chronic injury that caused his sudden exit in the French Open fourth round last month, a tournament won by arch rival Roger Federer. According to the UK's Guardian, he is to undergo an exhibition match on Saturday, June 20, but coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, said that he expects the worst.
"At the moment it's very difficult to play at Wimbledon. His knees are not good and he cannot bend," he said. "This is his first match, we wait."
Meanwhile Nadal has spoken of the match on June 20 as "the real test".
"I will come back and play again and then make my decision about playing at Wimbledon or not," he said, as quoted by the BBC.