London, England (Sports Network) - Deposed French Open king Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from next week's Wimbledon tuneup at the Queen's Club because of a knee injury.
Nadal, stunningly eliminated at the French Open last weekend in the fourth round by Sweden's Robin Soderling, has been advised by doctors to rest. He won last year's title at the Queen's Club and went on to capture his first Wimbledon crown a few weeks later.
"I am very disappointed to not be able to come this year to Queen's [and] defend the title I won last year," said Nadal in a statement. "To play in London has always been special for me, to play at the Queen's Club is an honor and the fans in the UK are among the best I have ever seen, always supporting me since the first time I played there.
"I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees, that's no secret, that did not allow me to compete always at 100 percent. 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. I am really sorry and I hope that the people at the tournament will still want me to come next year."
Nadal has won five titles this year, including the Australian Open. He also captured the prestigious Indian Wells event before taking clay crowns at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome. A loss to Roger Federer in the final at the French Open tuneup in Madrid preceded his first-ever loss at Roland Garros.