David Ferrer has withdrawn from Wimbledon with an elbow injury.

The Spaniard, who is ranked seven in the world, had been due to face James Ward in the first round on Monday but took to Twitter to announce his withdrawal.

Ferrer, who had been seeded to play fellow Spaniard Rafa Nadal in the quarter-finals, a stage he has reached twice in his career at the grasscourt tournament., will be replaced by lucky loser Luca Vanni of Italy.

The first round of Wimbledon gets under way on Monday, June 29. As defending champion, world number one Novak Djokovic will open the Championship on Centre Court, as is tradition at SW19.

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