French Open

World number nine Gasquet changed coach last weekend

France's number one player Richard Gasquet has been forced to pull out of the French Open with a knee injury.

The 21-year-old was to due play his first-round match on Monday, but he has been replaced by Santiago Giraldo.

The tournament had already been hit by the withdrawal of another home favourite, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who also has a knee problem.

World number nine Gasquet was seeded to meet top seed Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.

"I have tried my best (to be fit) but I had this problem with my knee. I started to feel the pain on Saturday evening and asked for my match to be postponed until Tuesday but (the organisers) refused," said Gasquet.

"I am extremely disappointed not to play here. However, I will play Wimbledon. The season is nine months long and only five have passed."

Gasquet has had a disappointing season so far, prompting him to change coach a week before the French Open.

He was joined on the sidelines by Germany's Florian Mayer, who withdrew on Monday with gastro-enteritis.

Mayer was replaced by Russian Evgeny Korolev, who will meet Fabrice Santoro in the first round.