SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten will not return to professional tennis for at least another month because of a hip injury and could skip Roland Garros.


Kuerten, who has played only one singles match this year, is recuperating at a clinic in the United States. He said he will not return to action until completely healed, said his spokeswoman, Diana Gabanyi.

``He will stay there for as long as it is necessary,'' Gabanyi said. ``His expectation is to continue treatment for another month, but it could be more if he feels it's needed. He said that he won't even play Roland Garros if he's not ready.''

Kuerten has won all of his three Grand Slam titles at the French Open, which this year begins on May 28.

``He should be playing again by then,'' Gabanyi said. ``But he will not force things just to be able to play Roland Garros.''

The Brazilian, who was ranked No. 1 by the ATP in 2000, won the last of his 20 tour titles in February 2004. He had surgery in September 2004 to remove bone spurs from his right hip and played sparingly thereafter.

``My goal is to fully fortify and stabilize my hip again,'' Kuerten said on his official Web site this week. ``I'll stay (at the clinic) for some time.''

He has played in less than 10 tour events since the surgery in 2004, never advancing past the second round.


The 29-year-old was eliminated by countryman Andre Ghem in the first round of the Brasil Open in February in his only ATP singles match of the season.


Kuerten, presently ranked No. 272, won the French Open in 1997, 2000 and 2001.


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