The Wimbledon fortnight begins today, but without world number one, Rafael Nadal, whose persistent tendonitis in his knees has put paid to his hopes of winning again on the hallowed turf at SW19.

He is the first champion not to defend his title since Croatia's Goran Ivanisevic missed the event in 2002.

After struggling through two exhibition matches at the Hurlingham Club last week, losing first to Australia's Lleyton Hewitt and then to Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka, Nadal took the difficult decision to pull out of the grand slam tournament.
 
Nadal was forced to withdraw from the previous week's tournament at Queen's Club with knee trouble and underwent intense rehabilitation in Barcelona.  He was diagnosed with tendinitis in both quadriceps tendons as well as a small amount of fluid on the kneecaps.

The 23-year-old looked to be on the mend after practising with Andy Murray at the All England Club on Wednesday, but the following day the Spaniard seemed troubled throughout his 80-minute exhibition encounter with Hewitt.

In Nadal's first match since losing to Robin Soderling in the fourth round of the French Open, the Spaniard looked increasingly frustrated as he repeatedly failed to get to balls he would normally reach.

Nadal, who beat Roger Federer in a classic final in 2008, had previously stated that he would not defend his Wimbledon crown if he was not 100% fit.

"He is having difficulties bending and it seems his treatments aren't enough," said coach and uncle Toni Nadal last Thursday.

If Federer wins Wimbledon, he will regain the number one slot.