LONDON -- Three-time Grand Slam singles champion Stan Wawrinka is skipping hard-court events in the United States to rest his injured left knee.
Wawrinka said in a statement that he will miss the Masters-level Indian Wells and Miami events to prepare for the European clay-court season.
The 2015 French Open champion said "coming back from a big surgery is complicated" and that his body needs more time to heal.
Wawrinka, who will turn 33 this month, ended his 2017 season with knee surgery in August.
He lost in the Australian Open second round in January and the first round at the Rotterdam indoor tournament before retiring from his second-round match last week in Marseille, France.
Wawrinka's ranking has dropped to No. 12.