Defending champion Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon yesterday because of tendinitis in his knees.

He is the first reigning Wimbledon men's champion to not defend the title since Goran Ivanisevic in 2002 — and only the second in the past 35 years. The grass-court Grand Slam tournament begins Monday.

"I'm just not 100 percent," the No. 1-ranked Nadal said during a news conference at the All England Club. "I'm better than I was a couple of weeks ago, but I just don't feel ready."

His announcement came about 2 1/2 hours after he lost to Stanislas Wawrinka in an exhibition match on grass at the Hurlingham Club in south London.

"Today was the last test," Nadal said. "I didn't feel terrible but not close to my best."

He also lost an exhibition there Thursday against 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt.

Nadal looked ragged during his straight-set loss against Hewitt on Thursday. But the Spaniard appeared in better condition against Wawrinka, several times racing toward the net for sharp volleys or scurrying along the baseline for winning groundstrokes on the run.

Still, Nadal said he just did not sense that he could win Wimbledon — and so he did not want to compete at all.

Nadal has complained about his knees since a fourth-round loss to Robin Soderling at the French Open on May 31.

BEIJING OLYMPICS

GAMES TURN PROFIT

Beijing Olympic organizers say they made a profit out of hosting last year's Summer Games.

According to figures released by the government audit bureau, $2.8 billion was spent on organizing and staging the Games, including the Paralympic Summer Games that followed.

That compares to income of $3 billion thus far, leaving a profit of $176 million, the bureau said. The biggest chunk, accounting for 40 percent, came from broadcast and marketing rights, along with sales of tickets, souvenirs, and commemorative coins and stamps.

The expenditure figures cover only operating expenses, leaving out spending on venues and infrastructure such as airports, roads and subways for the sprawling city of 18 million people.

ELSEWHERE

Auto racing: Brian Vickers won his second consecutive pole yesterday through the road course at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Vickers posted a lap of 93.678 mph to win his fourth pole of the season. He also won the pole last weekend at Michigan, where he finished ninth. Kyle Busch qualified second.

• Richard Childress says his organization is among the NASCAR teams that will receive less funding from General Motors because of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Childress, Tony Stewart and Rick Hendrick have all said GM officials told them the company is cutting back its support, effective immediately.

Tennis: Defending champion Tamarine Tanasugarn upset top-ranked Dinara Safina, 7-5, 7-5, yesterday in the semifinals of the Ordina Open at Den Bosch, Netherlands. Yanina Wickmayer beat Francesca Schiavone, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3, in the other semifinal.

Golf: One of the Nationwide Tour's top events slashed its purse nearly in half yesterday because of a lack of sponsorships. Next week's Players Cup at Bridgewater, W.Va., will award $600,000 in prize money, down from $1 million.

WNBA: Minnesota Lynx star Seimone Augustus will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in her left knee. Augustus was the Lynx's leading scorer with 21 points per game. She was hurt Wednesday against Phoenix.