Lleyton Hewitt has pulled out of the French Open to give the rib he fractured this month more time to heal. The world No2, already recovering from a toe injury, fell at his Sydney home two weeks ago.
The 24-year-old Australian, who had hoped to make a comeback in this week's World Team Cup in Germany, will now be replaced by a lucky loser in the draw for the French Open, which starts on Monday.
Hewitt, twice a quarter-finalist on the clay courts of Paris, has not played since losing to the world No1 Roger Federer in the final in Indian Wells in March. The former Wimbledon champion and world No1 has now made Wimbledon the target for his return.
"I have decided to take doctors' advice and not play next week as returning too early runs the risk of prolonging my recovery period," he said in the statement released by Tennis Australia. "This is obviously disappointing but I am taking a longer-term approach.
"My sights are now firmly set on the forthcoming grass-court season starting with Queen's and then Wimbledon, building up to [Australia's] tough Davis Cup tie against Argentina in Sydney." The Queen's tournament starts on June 6.
Australia's top-ranked woman, Alicia Molik, who has also had to pull out of the French Open, is back in training and she too has targeted Wimbledon as her next grand slam. A middle-ear infection has kept her out of the game for five weeks.
The American Taylor Dent is another absentee in Paris because of an ankle injury and he too will be replaced by a lucky loser.
The French Open draw takes place today. Federer will be the top men's seed, with the American Andy Roddick taking over from Hewitt as the second seed.