Rafael Nadal may be out of Wimbledon due to tendinitis issues in his knee, but he's certainly not out of the public eye.

He made the cover of Men's Fitness as the year's fittest guy: http://www.mensfitness.com/fitness/469. Along with this interview where Rafa talks about his training program: http://www.mensfitness.com/sports_and_recreation/athletes/154

He's on the cover of The New York Times Magazine for 6/21: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/magazine/21nadal-t.html?_r=1&hp

Greg Garber chronicles Nadal's decision not to play Wimbledon in this insightful piece on ESPN.com: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/wimbledon09/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=4273020

He made the Time 100 Most Influential People for 2009: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1883644_1883653_1884545,00.html

Although we won't be treated to a potential re-match to last year's monumental final, Nadal's hard work has put him at the top of men's tennis and he deserves the praise.

Here's looking forward to next year...