Nadal hopeful over Wimbledon
Rafael Nadal hopes he will recover in time for this year's Wimbledon
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Tuesday, 09, Jun 2009 10:04
Rafael Nadal has said he expects to be fit for the Championships at Wimbledon in two weeks' time, despite being diagnosed with tendonitis in the knees.
The Spaniard will travel to London next Tuesday in the hope of getting some training on grass in time for the tournament at the All England Club, after being forced to pull out of Queen's this week because of the injury.
He will undergo intensive treatment in Spain, and then have further medical tests and supervision in London to get ready to defend the title he won for the first time last year.
"I have been playing with pain in my knees for some months now and I simply can't go on like this," he told his personal website.
"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 if he is not 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."
Nadal beat Roger Federer in last year's Wimbledon final.
However, this season he has struggled to hit the same heights and, despite having never lost a match in four years at Roland Garros, was eliminated from the French Open fourth round - losing to eventual runner-up Robin Soderling.