Nadal arrives in London
Rafael Nadal arrives in London to prove fitness ahead of Wimbledon
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Tuesday, 16, Jun 2009 10:53
Rafael Nadal has arrived in London today with a view to testing his fitness on the grass courts ahead of the start of the Championships at Wimbledon next week.
The world number one and reigning champion at SW19 is a major doubt for the tournament because of tendonitis in his knees, which has been caused by a hectic ATP Tour schedule this year.
However, he has said he will do his utmost to prove his fitness - enabling him to make an appearance and defend his title at the All England Club.
In a statement on his website this week, Nadal, 23, said he "still doesn't know" if he will play, adding: "I will know at the end of this week. Hopefully [I will play], but I still need to see if I am 100 per cent fit."
Last week, the provisional top seed for the tournament said: "I have been playing with pain in my knees for some months now and I simply can't go on like this.
"The pain was limiting certain movements in my body, which affected me mentally as well.
"I am going to give 200 per cent to be ready for the most important tournament in the world - the tournament that I always dream about."
However, he said he would not play unless he is fully fit.
"I have two difficult weeks ahead of me, especially because I won't be doing what I like doing most, which is to play tennis," he continued.
"But I will be working on my recovery through physiotherapy treatments as well as recovery work on the specific muscular area."
The Spanish Tennis Federation's head of medical, Dr Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, added: "After the appropriate tests (an MRI, ultrasound scans and gammagraphy) Mr Nadal has been diagnosed with insertion tendonitis in the superior end of both kneecaps with a light osseous edema.
"His treatment will involve oral anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy as well as progressive muscular exercises for both quadriceps.
"Following the 48-hour treatment, Mr Nadal will get back into training progressively."