By: Chris Oddo/Tennis Now Staff

Photo Credit: AP Photo

(July 19, 2012) -- The knee issues that have plagued Rafael Nadal ever since he rose to the top of the sport will keep him out of the 2012 Olympic games, the world No. 3 announced today.

The 2008 Olympic gold medalist stated that he’d be unable to represent his country due to an undisclosed knee injury. “I am not in condition to compete in the London Olympics and therefore will not travel as planned with the Spanish delegation to take part in the games,” he said in a statement today.

Nadal did not mention the specifics of the injury, but he did mention knee tendonitis as a reason for pulling out of a planned charity exhibition with Novak Djokovic in Madrid which was scheduled for July 14th.

Nadal also had to pull out of an event in Miami on March 30 due to issues with the same knee, but returned in time to capture his record-breaking seventh French Open title in Paris this spring.

“I have to think about my companions,” said Nadal. “I have to think about what’s best for Spanish sport, especially tennis and Spanish players, and give teammates with better preparation the chance to compete.”

The 26-year-old was set to be the flag-bearer for Spain at the opening ceremony in London. 

“I tried to hurry my preparations and training to the very last minute,” Nadal said, “but it was not meant to be. It is one of the saddest moments of my career.”