TORONTO -- Tennis Canada says Rafael Nadal, ranked No. 3 in the world, is pulling out of the Rogers Cup in Toronto due to a knee injury.
This will be the first time since his debut appearance in 2004 that Nadal will miss the event that begins on Saturday.
He also withdrew from the Olympic tennis event in London last week.
Additional draw withdrawals as of Thursday were David Ferrer of Spain, Gael Monfils of France and Spain's Fernando Verdasco.
Earlier Thursday, Tennis Canada announced that Canadian tennis players Frank Dancevic, Vasek Pospisil and Peter Polansky have been given wildcards to the men's Rogers Cup.
Nadal says he was planning to play in Toronto and did everything he could to be ready but still needs more time to recover.
"Coming to Toronto is always one of the highlights of my season so I'm very disappointed that I can't play there this year," said Nadal.
Tournament director Karl Hale said Nadal has been a fan favourite at the Rogers Cup and a great supporter of the tournament.
"We're obviously disappointed that he won't be in Toronto this year but we wish him a speedy recovery so he can return to the Tour as soon as possible," Hale said.
Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., was already granted automatic entry to the ATP Tour event for his No. 23 world ranking.
Vancouver's Pospisil is the highest ranked of the wildcard players at 85th. Dancevic, from Niagara Falls, Ont., is ranked 135 while Polansky, from Thornhill, is No. 155.
Four Canadians were also given wildcard spots to the qualifying tournament that begins Saturday.
Montreal's Erik Chvojka, Toronto's Steven Diez, Pierre-Ludovic Duclos of Saint-Foy, Que., and Filip Peliwo of North Vancouver, B.C., will play for one of six spots in the main draw.
