Eastbourne top seed and reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has pulled out of the Aegon International for the second year running.

The Czech, due to face Christina McHale or Camila Giorgi after a first round bye, has withdrawn through illness.

Kvitova, who pulled out of her quarter-final with Britain's Heather Watson last year to rest a hamstring injury, kept a prior engagement with the media to explain her decision. She said: "I started to feel unwell when I came here (Thursday), maybe from playing, I'm not really sure.

"I didn't feel the best. A few days ago I had a sore throat.

"It's not really much better and I have a cold, so I made the decision to pull out."

Kvitova, Eastbourne runner-up in 2011, expects to play at Wimbledon where she won for the second time last year by defeating Canadian prospect Eugenie Bouchard in the final.

"I hope so," she said. "I didn't need antibiotics so that is a good sign. I have to be in bed and drink lots of tea. I'm just lying and resting."

Kvitova's withdrawal has also robbed Eastbourne spectators of the chance to see her team up with Caroline Wozniacki in the doubles.