TENNIS
Rafa Nadal: injured Spaniard ruled out of Wimbledon
The Spaniard announced on Thursday that he won't be taking part in this year's edition of the tournament, which he won in 2008 and 2010.
Spain's Rafael Nadal has been ruled out of Wimbledon after failing to recover from a wrist problem which also forced his early withdrawal from the French Open.
The 30-year-old revealed the news in a message posted on his Facebook account on Thursday.
"A very tough decision"
"I'm sad to announce that after talking to my doctors, and receiving the results of my last medical revision, I won't be able to play at Wimbledon this year," he wrote.
"As you can all imagine, it's a very tough decision, but the injury I suffered at Roland Garros needs time to heal."
The 14-time Grand Slam winner was Wimbledon champion in 2008 and 2010.
He pulled out of the French Open, where he has lifted the trophy on nine occasions, after injuring a tendon in his left wrist after just two rounds.
"He won't play unless he's 100 percent"
On Wednesday, uncle and long-time coach Toni Nadal admitted that there had been no time set for his nephew's return to the tour.
"We don't want to put in danger his participation in the Olympic Games," he explained.
"[Rafa] will return when the doctors are convinced that all is going well. He won't play unless he's 100 percent."
Wimbledon, the season's third Grand Slam event, gets under way at the All England Club on 27 June.
A statement released on Thursday by Nadal's agent Benito Pérez-Barbadillo read: "Rafa's left wrist will continue [to be] immobilised for a maximum of two weeks.
"After that the player will start an anti-inflammatory rehabilitation and physiotherapy-based treatment once the cast is removed."
Sharapova also out
This year's tournament will also be without another former champion after 2004 women's winner Maria Sharapova was banned for two years for a failed drugs test.