UPDATE 4-Tennis-Champion Nadal pulls out of Wimbledon
* Knee injury forces Spaniard to withdraw
* First man unable to defend Wimbledon title since 2002
* Nadal says he is suffering from swelling of knee joints
* Sure he can recover
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LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - Champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of Wimbledon on Friday after losing his battle to recover from a knee injury.
"Unfortunately this year I won't be able to play at Wimbledon," he told a news conference in Spanish.
The Spaniard, who has been struggling with tendinitis in his knees since being knocked out of the French Open last month, tested his fitness in two exhibition matches this week but after losing both decided not to defend his Wimbledon title just three days before the start of the major. Continued...
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