PARIS, May 13 (UPI) -- Goran Ivanisevic has pulled out of the 2003 French Open, the organizers of the Grand Slam event announced Tuesday.
The three-time quarterfinalist at Roland Garros and native of Croatia missed the final six months of last season with a shoulder injury. He underwent minor surgery on his left foot on April 8, and has not returned to the ATP Tour.
He is slated to compete in next month's Wimbledon tuneup event in Nottingham, England.
Ivanisevic, 31, was runnerup at Wimbledon three times before capturing his first career major there in 2001. Last season, he was just 6-7, and did not advance past the quarterfinals before undergoing left shoulder surgery on May 16. He became the first defending champion not to return to Wimbledon because of illness or injury since Rene Lacoste in 1926.
The hard-serving lefthander has played in just two ATP tournaments this year, losing in the first round at Dubai and Indian Wells.
