LONDON, England, May 7 (UPI) -- Defending Wimbledon men's singles champion Goran Ivanisevic Tuesday confirmed that he will undergo surgery on his left shoulder in Germany next week and, as a result of the rotator cuff surgery, he will be unable to defend his Grand Slam title.
The procedure will keep him be out of the game until the end of the year.
Despite suffering for almost a year with the injury, the pain worsened after the Davis Cup tie with Germany in February, and it has not responded to extensive therapy.
"I wanted so much to play that opening match on Monday at Wimbledon on Centre Court, and I am very disappointed," Ivanisevic said in a statement from Zagreb in his homeland in Croatia, "but I have no other choice. I'm also disappointed for my supporters and all those who were looking forward to seeing me defend my title in Wimbledon".
Last year, Ivanisevic defeated Patrick Rafter in the final to become the first wild-card to ever win the Wimbledon title.
