Petra Kvitova has played down the impact on her Wimbledon hopes of pulling out of Eastbourne for the second year running.

The Czech top seed and reigning Wimbledon champion withdrew from the Aegon International yesterday due to illness.

Kvitova pulled out last year ahead of her quarter-final clash with Britain's Heather Watson to rest a hamstring injury.

The world No.2, feeling under the weather with a sore throat since her arrival in Eastbourne last Thursday, said: "Of course I wanted to play some matches here, but it doesn't really make sense to play and not be ready for Wimbledon, maybe getting more ill than I am now.

"I know a lot of the players don't play the tournament before. I'm not the only one."