Florian Mayer withdraws from French Open

Paris:

Florian Mayer of Germany has withdrawn from the French Open with an intestinal virus prior his first round match.

Mayer, who never got beyond the second round at Roland Garros, was scheduled to play the 13th-seeded Gael Monfils of France later Monday.

Mayer said the first symptoms started on Sunday night and that he wouldn't have been able to play. He has been replaced in the main draw by lucky loser Dieter Kindlmann of Germany.

Mayer said he likely contracted the virus last week at the ATP World Team Cup last week, where "an Australian player was suffering from the same sickness."

He was expected to play in Roland Garros for the first time since 2007.