NEWPORT, R.I. -- Defending champion Taylor Dent withdrew from the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Tuesday because of a pinched nerve in his right hand Tuesday.

Dent, who was seeded second, was seeking his third career title. Last year, he captured the 2002 Hall of Fame final in a three-set match over top seed James Blake. Dent won his first in Newport last year.

"I won my first ATP tour title here last year so it is very disappointing not to be able to play in the tournament,'' Dent said. "I'm really going to miss it.''