World third and 2018 champion Simona Halep has withdrawn from the French Open due to a left calf injury.
The Romanian, who won his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, had to help the court at the Italian Open after breaking a muscle.
Halep is a three-time finalist at the French Open starting May 30.
The 29-year-old won Wimbledon in 2012, so he will be the defending champion if he is fit for this year's event, which starts on June 26.
"Being removed from a Grand Slam goes against all my instincts and aspirations as an athlete"
Halep lost to American Sloane Stephens in Paris in 2018 after winning the French Open.
He reached the fourth round last year after losing to champion Iga Svetek.
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With the injury Angelique retired from the second round Italian Open match against Kerber and a tear appeared on the scan.
Halep wrote on Twitter, “Unfortunately I need more time to recover my left calf tear and the deadline is too short.
"The thought of not being in Paris fills me with sadness, but I will concentrate on regaining my strength."
World number one and 2019 champion Ashleigh Bertio retired from the quarter-finals of the Italian Open with a hand injury.
Analysis
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
Halep already has a special place in the hearts of French tennis fans, and a blow to any tournament where a past champion has lost.
The 2014 winners lost to Maria Sharapova and Jelena Ostapenko in the 2014 and 2017 finals.
The news was inevitable as Halep was confirmed to have a tear in his calf after a sudden stop against Rome's Karbar.
But maybe he can do Wimbledon. He still has five weeks left to start defending his title.
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