[Tommy]

Paris, France (Sports Network) - Former world No. 1 Aussie Lleyton Hewitt and American Taylor Dent withdrew from the 2005 French Open due to injuries.

The two-time Grand Slam event champion Hewitt recently suffered a cracked rib in an accident at his home in Sydney, while the world No. 30 Dent is nursing an ankle injury.

Hewitt, currently ranked second in the world, was this year's Australian Open runner-up to Marat Safin and last year's U.S. Open runner-up to Roger Federer.

The 24-year-old star, who has also been slowed by a foot injury that required minor surgery in March, will now target the grass-court season leading up to Wimbledon as his return to the court.

Hewitt recently got engaged to Australian soap opera star Rebecca Cartwright and the couple is expecting a baby later this year.

Roland Garros gets underway Monday in Paris.



05/19 10:52:42 ET

powered by www.sportsnetwork.com.

[DUlrich1227]

Australian star Lleyton Hewitt has confirmed he will not be taking part in this year's French Open, which begins on Monday.

The former world number one has failed to recover from a rib injury he sustained last week and revealed he was withdrawing so as not to further aggravate the problem at Roland Garros.

"I have decided to take my doctor's advice and not play next week as returning too early runs the risk of prolonging my recovery period," said Hewitt.

"It's obviously disappointing but I am taking a longer-term approach."

Hewitt, who has never won French Open title, insists he is determined to return to fitness in time to take part in the season's next Grand Slam, Wimbledon, as well as his country's Davis Cup quarter-final in July.

"My sights are now firmly set on the forthcoming grass court season starting with Queen's and then Wimbledon, building up to our tough Davis Cup tie against Argentina in Sydney," he added.