LONDON (Reuters) - Mystery still surrounded defending champion Rafael Nadal's participation at Wimbledon after he lost a second warm-up match in two days but showed few obvious signs of pain from his knees on Friday.
The 23-year-old was beaten 4-6 7-6 10-3 by Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in front of a couple of hundred spectators at an exclusive southwest London sports club before heading to Wimbledon where he was expected to talk about his fitness.
The match had been billed as a last-ditch test for the world number one who has been troubled by tendonitis in both knees since his shock early defeat at the French Open to Sweden's Robin Soderling.
While fans at the country club just a few miles away from the scene of Nadal's astonishing defeat of Roger Federer 12 months ago marveled at the dashing Spaniard, the assembled media only had eyes for Nadal's knees.
Every bend and stretch was a potential Wimbledon wrecker for Nadal, who gave precious little away with his body language throughout what was a reasonably strenuous work-out against the Olympic doubles champion.
Those looking for clues as to whether his knees would prevent him defending his title were left frustrated, although one incredible sprint from behind the baseline to near the net post before flicking a winner in the second set did not look like that of a man in pain.
The Mallorcan had winced and grimaced his way through a two-set defeat against Lleyton Hewitt the previous day but appeared more relaxed at the Hurlingham Club on Friday.
Lesser men who did not have the world's biggest grasscourt title to defend would have already given up the ghost and returned home to recover properly.
According to leading London knee surgeon John Browett the best option for Nadal would be complete rest, possibly as long as three months, although he said playing at Wimbledon would not risk serious injury.
"It's quite a difficult condition to treat," he told Reuters. "It's a common injury in sport where you are pushing off a bent knee.
"It is not career-threatening and won't do anything serious. It's not like an arthritic problem or torn meniscus but the pain of it may inhibit his play."
Being the fighter he is, Nadal will be desperate to give himself a chance to defend his crown, especially after the disappointment at Roland Garros.
However, former French Open champion Henri Leconte said Nadal needed to be careful.
"If he is not 100 percent I don't think he wants to risk his knees even more if they really hurt," said the charismatic Leconte.
"He had an extraordinary year last year (but it) was also an extremely tough year for him so now I think he's paying for it."
Friday's Wimbledon draw paired Nadal with Frenchman Arnaud Clement, the first of seven matches he would have to win to retain his trophy, a tall order even for one of the best athletes tennis has ever seen.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez)
Source: Reuters
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