7 Jun 2009

Nadal in doubt for Wimbledon

6:42 am on 7 June 2009

Champion Rafael Nadal is a doubt for this year's Wimbledon championships because of a knee injury, his coach says.

Coach Toni Nadal, Nadal's uncle, says a decision will be made in the enxt few days

The Spaniard had already pulled out of next week's warm-up tournament at Queen's Club and now faces the possibility of missing the season's third grand slam, which begins on June 22.

Nadal's four-year reign at the French Open was ended by Swede Robin Soderling in the fourth round. He also lost to Roger Federer in the Madrid Open final last month.

Although the world number one did not complain of any knee problems following those defeats he has been plagued by tendinitis in recent years.

A gruelling claycourt season, during which he won titles in Monte Carlo, Rome and Barcelona, appears to have taken its toll on the 23-year-old.