I knew yesterday that that after that match with Hewitt he could not play. One he might go out really early because of loss of mobility and as defending champ that would be humiliating. Second he has to address this knee problem which could be a career ending problem due to his style of play.I think he may even write the year off and try to get fit. As it happens I am in physio with a bad knee and there were some conversations about Nadal taking place. between a doctor ( with a bad tennis knee himself)and some of the physio people and all seemed to think that it would be very hard for him to play at a top level not because of his knees but because the way he plays punishes his knees. It must have been very hard for Nadal who is really a great champion particularly after his great win over Roger last year. I keep thinking of Kuerten another great star who left the game early. It's time for another guy to break through and win Wimbledon and I hope its Murray.

Peggy knows everything! 

 

Have to admit I am very surprised about the withdrawal. Wimbledon has always meant a lot to Nadal, so I thought he would give it a go.

 

It's just impossible to know how bad it is. I don't believe it is a career ending injury. May only be a slight bump in his career. We're just going to have to wait and see.

You were right Peggye! I am very surprised. I thought for sure he would give it a shot in the opening round. I don't believe it is a career-ending injury either though obviously the guy has to be in some serious pain to withdraw. As DMan says: time will tell. I can see him taking a few months off. Thought he would play a limited hard-court schedule anyway, but now with this really wonder what he will do.

Nadal played good tennis at the French Open but, Soderling played better. I think he does have a knee problem and his style of play is going to wear his knees down for good! It's unfortunately that he has to play that style of tennis to win. Murray does have the style of play to win a Grand Slam, but Federer is on a high  and full of confidence after winning the French Open when he was almost out of the tournament twice, and I do believe if he makes it to the final, no matter who he plays, he will win. Hopefully Nadal can get the much needed rest that he needs, but the hard courts are coming up and he is just going to damage his knees further and that might put him out of the game for good. There is no way of getting around it. Once you have developed a style of play, that's all you know. He can't change the way he plays, because if he does, he want be the champion he wants to be. Maybe he can have nike develop some special sneakers to withstand the impact the surfaces has on is knees.

I knew he would withdraw because I read he was having lots of problems playing Hewitt this info coming from an English paper I was looking at and then Uncle Toni said something about going home. Outside of that I have no predictions since I cannot tell the difference between one mullah or the other(wonder if those guys ever play tennis) ,have no idea if a meteor is going to hit earth and can't see Tiger making up ten strokes which is great because TV might actually show another player.

It shouldn't come as a huge surprise that this is happening, as people on this board have been predicting for a couple of years now that Nadal's body would wear out eventually from his style of play.  The guy is a grinder out there, and it's going to be difficult for him to get match tough again during the hardcourt season, as the hard courts are probably the least forgiving on his knees.  Federer is the clear favourite to win his 6th Wimbledon, break Sampras's record, and also accomplish the daunting task of winning the Roland Garros and Wimbledon back to back, as Nadal did last year.  I'm sure Borg will be in attendance again, as he was the last one to accomplish this feat back in 1980, prior to 2008.  It will be an interesting Wimbledon to say the least.

Nadal does not get injured because of his style of play.  He gets injured because he over plays.  He does not pull out of tournaments.  He makes amateur decisions to his career.  Tendinitis by itself is not a surgical injury, though it can become one if he plays further with it, and the quadriceps tendon comes off the knee cap edge, like it happened to Serena and Safin. He actually made a professional decision finally because he pulled out of Wimbledon, though this could have been preventable if he gave himself 5 weeks off after Melbourne, Rotterdam, Indian Wells, Miami, or Madrid.   Now he suffers the consequences of his stubborness, and I a NadalFan can only be angry at Rafael and his stupid team. 

And BTW, Federer is not assured a Wimbledon win.  Federer is not the only one who smells opportunity.  So do Murray, Djokovic, and Del Potro.  

Right you are Tommy Boy. Hopefully Nadal can be ready for the Canadian Open and then play the US Open. What was looking like a grand slam year was done in by playing too many tournaments between Australia and Paris. Too bad as this may have been his one chance to win the calendar year Slam. If he cuts back on his schedule he may have another chance but I'm afraid, unlike Federer, Nadal needs the competition week after week to stay sharp and beat the top players.

Nadals early season schedule will always be busy, and he has to play a full season of clay to protect all those points every year. If he goes to a "Its all about the Majors" attitude, I could see him coming up with an injury right around the time of IW and The Lipton. If his people can keep him from chasing the appearance and exo money being thrown at them, it would be smart.

Now on his pullout, interesting chain of events. If he pulls out before the draw, Fed gets seeded 1, and it's a different tournament.This way screwed  Roddick, Hewitt and Clement, they throw Del Potro in Nadal"s spot, Clement has to play DP in the first round, Hewitt would get DP in the 2nd, and isnt Hewitt the most hated man in Argentina, and Roddick would get DP in the quarters, all instead of a Lucky Loser had he waited until Late Sunday or early Monday morning.

Djoker got lucky by the switch of DP, he gets Blake in his quarter instead of DP, big break

Point well taken about Nadal.  However, it's probably best that you didn't bet against the Fed.