Injured Nadal out of Davis Cup semis

MADRID – World number three Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Davis Cup semi-final against the United States with a knee injury and will be sidelined for at least two more months, he said in a statement Monday.

“Nadal will not play in the next two months and will stop to rest and recover his knee,” said an official statement from his home town of Manacor in Majorca, Spain.

“Among other things he won’t be able to be at the disposal of the Spanish Davis Cup captain for the semifinals tie against the USA,” it said.

Nadal, the reigning French Open champion, has been off the tour since his shock Wimbledon second round exit in late June. The Spaniard also missed the Olympics as well as the ongoing US Open.

He has a torn tendon and inflammation in the left knee. The tear is being treated with medication, therapy and progressive rehabilitation, the player said.

“I really want to be back competing and enjoying the tennis tour but I have many years in front of me and my knee needs some rest,” the 26-year-old said.

“I will be back when I have no pain and able to compete without fears.”

Nadal said he felt better after meeting with doctors and happy that his condition had improved in the past weeks, enabling him to avoid surgery.

“I will continue to work with the plan my doctors have established to be able to compete as soon as possible in the right conditions,” he said in the statement.

The winner of the Spain-USA Davis Cup semi-final, which will be held in Gijon from Sept. 14-16, will face either Argentina or the Czech Republic in November’s final.