Paris--French number one Gilles Simon has pulled out of the ATP event in Nice because of back pains.
The world No 13, who hails from the region and is a two-time semi-finalist in Nice, said Wednesday he was "extremely sad to have to pull out of the Nice tournament".
"The pains are still too much," he said on twitter.
With less than one week to go before the French Open, Simon was scheduled to have played American James Duckworth in his opening match on the French Riviera.
The Frenchman also had to withdraw from the Italian Open earlier this month.
AFP
