French tennis star Richard Gasquet has been forced to withdraw from the French Open due to a knee injury.

21-year-old Gasquet, who is the number one player in France, was to due play his first-round match on Monday, however Santiago Giraldo has replaced him.

The French Open had already lost another Frenchman when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had to pull out as well because of a knee problem.

World number nine Richard Gasquet had been seeded to face Swiss number one tennis star Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.

Gasquet, who has had a poor beginning to his season so far explained: “I have tried my best 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.”

And he added: “I am extremely disappointed not to play here. However, I will play Wimbledon. The season is nine months long and only five have passed.”