Entertainer Monfils pulls out of French Open with heel injury
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Gael Monfils announcing he was pulling out of the draw to have surgery on his right heel.
PARIS (AFP) - French hopes of a first men s singles title at Roland Garros since 1983 suffered a blow on Monday with Gael Monfils announcing he was pulling out of the draw to have surgery on his right heel.
"Hi all, I regret to inform you that I am forced to withdraw from Open Parc de Lyon and the French Open next week," the French number one tweeted.
"I have been bothered by a calcaneal spur since Monte-Carlo at my right heel which prevents me from moving properly on court.
"I have decided to undergo a small procedure this week to treat the issue before returning to competitive play."
The 35-year-old, a semi-finalist at the French Open in 2008 and currently ranked 22 in the world, is one of the great entertainers on court and a big favourite on the red clay of Roland Garros.
He started the season well by winning in Adelaide and reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. But he struggled on the clay and, already bothered by his heel, pulled out in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
His announcement comes a day after he and his wife, the Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina, former number three in the world, revealed that they are expecting their first child, a girl, in October.
Yannick Noah was the last male home winner in Paris, beating Mats Wilander in straight sets in 1983. The last French winner of the women s singles was Mary Pierce who beat Conchita Martinez in 2000.
