Nadal to head to London before final Wimbledon decision

LONDON - Rafael Nadal will fly to London next Tuesday after undergoing medical tests in Barcelona and waiting to see whether his knees will hold up for Wimbledon.

The World number one is keen to defend the title he won over Roger Federer at the All England Club a year ago.

Nadal’s management confirmed Tuesday that the holder will wait until the last minute to decide on his Wimbledon participation.

For the past 36 hours, the 23-year-old has been undergoing detailed medical tests under the supervision of his doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro.

“I’ve been playing with pain on my knees for some months now and I simply can’t go on like this,” Nadal said in a statement.

“The pain was limiting certain movements in my body, which affected me mentally as well.

“I’m going to give my 200 percent to be ready for the most important tournament in the world. The tournament that I always dream about.

“I will not go out and play, especially on the Wimbledon Centre Court, if I am not 100 percent ready to play.”

Nadal said that he has “two difficult weeks” ahead.

“I won’t be doing what I like doing most, which is to play tennis, but I will be working on my recovery through physiotherapy treatments as well as recovery work on the specific muscular area.”

Added Spanish federation doctor Ruiz-Cotorro: “After the appropriate tests (MRI, Ultrasound scans and gammagraphy) Rafael Nadal suffers from 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, he will get back into training progressively.”

Nadal as due to play at this week’s Queen’s club event in London, which he also won in 2008. But he pulled out over the knee problems last week after a surprise fourth-round exit at the French Open, which he had won 2005-08.