Newly-crowned Wimbledon Champion Rafael Nadal pulls out of Mercedes Cup in
Stuttgart blaming a knee injury and exhaustion from a packed tennis
schedule.


STUTTGART, GERMANY (JULY 7, 2008) RTL GERMANY -
Newly-crowned Wimbledon Champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of the
Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart on Monday (July 07), blaming a knee injury and the
effects of a packed tennis schedule. The 22 year-old, who became the first
Spaniard in more than four decades to win the Wimbledon men's singles title on
Sunday (July 06) after defeating Roger Federer in an epic final, will take a
few days off before heading to the hard courts of Toronto.
"The calendar this year is terrible, it's very very tough and I have a
problem in the second round in Wimbledon against (Stephane) Gulbis, I go down
I have a little bit of problem behind the knee. During cold Wimbledon I have
problems a little bit, yesterday during the match I go down... I fell down
another time. Well I spoke with my doctor and the doctor said I need some days
off" said Nadal.
    Nadal's participation in the Mercedes Cup - a tournament he won last
year - was always in doubt after his epic final against Federer finished at
2015 GMT on Sunday. The Spaniard eventually triumphed 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7
after a punishing four hours and 48 minutes. 
    "The match was very emotional. Winning two sets to love, after I
lost two tie-breaks so finally in the fifth set I was playing very well. I
have one break point against at 4-3 with my serve, but I have more chances to
break him and finally I have the victory so probably one of my best moments of
my career" he said.