Juan Martin Del Potro will miss Wimbledon after it was announced that he needs knee surgery.
The world no12 pulled out of the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen's Club on Wednesday evening after an innocuous-looking slip during his first-round win over Denis Shapovalov resulted in his right knee swelling up.
Tests confirmed the Argentinian's worst fears, showing a fracture of his right kneecap.
A statement released on Twitter by Del Potro's agent, Jorge Viale, read: "The medical studies done last night in a clinic in London show that Juan Martin Del Potro has suffered again a fracture in the right patella.
"After consultation with his doctor, Angel Cotorro, it has been determined that it will require surgery.
"This will take place in the next couple of days with a date and location to be determined. We will keep you informed."
Del Potro has been unlucky with injuries during his career and this is the second time in less than a year that he has fractured the same kneecap.
The first incident came in a fall at the Masters tournament in Shanghai last October.
He initially returned in February but was then sidelined again with further pain until May and has played just five tournaments all season.
Del Potro's biggest problems have come with his wrists. He had surgery on his right wrist in 2010, less than a year after winning his only Grand Slam title at the US Open, and then needed three operations on his left wrist, ruling him out for the best part of two years between 2014 and 2016.
