Nadal Pulls out of defence of Wimbledon crown

Rafael Nadal has become just the fourth man to fail to defend the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Championship. The World Number 1 has pulled out with a recurring knee problem and joins Stan Smith & Goran Ivanesivic as absent champions.
Nadal has been struggling with knee trouble since his astonishing defeat at last month’s French Open as he chased a fifth straight Roland Garros crown. His decision was expected as his main aim for this year is believed to be capturing the US Open to complete his Grand Slam set alongside Roger Federer who completed the et with victory in Paris.
His withdrawal is great news for British number 1 Andy Murray who will now be second seed behind Federer. Murray’s victory at the pre Wimbledon warm up at Queens was the first by a Briton sonce Bunny Austin in 1938. If Murray were to win he would be the first Briton toi lift the sport’s most prestigious title since the great Fred Perry completed a hat trick of titles in 1936.

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