King of Clay – Rafael Nadal will be out for at least two more months he said in a statement yesterday, making him unavailable for the Davis Cup semifinal against the United States.

"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 semi-finals 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.

The World No.3 has a torn tendon and inflamation in his left knee. Rafa is being treated with medication, therapy and progressive rehabilitation.

"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," Nadal said.

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

Nadal's condition has positively improved in the past few weeks which means he would not need 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 September 14-16, will face either Argentina or the Czech Republic in November's final.