Nadal pulls out of Mercedes with knee problems

Updated: July 7, 2008, 6:55 AM EST Comment STUTTGART, Germany (AP) - One day after winning the Wimbledon title for the first time, Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Mercedes Cup on Monday with unspecified knee problems. The second-ranked Spaniard traveled to the Weissenhof tennis center to tell the promoters personally of his withdrawal as the clay-court event's defending champion and star attraction. Doctors advised Nadal to take a few days off. "I'm disappointed that I can't play," Nadal said. Nadal dethroned Roger Federer as Wimbledon champion Sunday, needing 4 hours, 48 minutes to hold off the Swiss star's stirring comeback, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7. The win was Nadal's first Grand Slam title outside of the French Open, which he has won the last... [read full story]