No Nadal in Stuttgart

No Nadal in Stuttgart






New Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal has pulled out of this week's Mercedes Cup because of an unspecified knee problem.

The Spaniard travelled to the Weissenhof Tennis Centre in Stuttgart to inform the promoters personally of his withdrawal.

"I'm disappointed that I can't play," he said.

Nadal, world-ranked number two behind Roger Federer, was the clay-court event's defending champion and star attraction.

However, after defeating Federer in Wimbledon's longest ever men's singles final on Sunday evening, doctors have advised Nadal to take a few days off.