MARSEILLE (AFP) - Frenchman Gael Monfils withdrew on Tuesday from the ATP tournament in Marseille with a hamstring injury.

"I've got a pretty tight hamstring, I took the decision to not play in Marseille this year to be able to recover and prevent a longer-term injury," said the world No. 16.

"I already played strapped up in Rotterdam," added Monfils, who was beaten by Slovakia's Martin Klizan in the final of last week's World Tennis event, dropping his finals record to 5-18.

Monfils, a runner-up to compatriot Gilles Simon in Marseille last year, was replaced in the draw by lucky loser David Guez.