Wednesday 16 November 2016 20:19, UK
Gael Monfils has withdrawn from the ATP World Tour Finals in London due to a rib injury.
The world No 6 struggled through the last two sets of his round-robin defeat to Dominic Thiem on Tuesday and has been replaced by Belgium's David Goffin.
Goffin will fulfill Monfils' final match of the tournament, against Novak Djokovic on Thursday.
Monfils' hopes of reaching the last four were already over after he lost in straight sets to Milos Raonic in his first match and then fell to a three-set defeat to Thiem in his second.
He said: "I can't play for tomorrow because I still feel worse and worse - my ribs, that I had lately.
"Yesterday was tough in the game. Today I couldn't be feeling great and couldn't practise, so I just decide that I couldn't play tomorrow. You work so hard for this moment, then not be able play your best - it is a huge disappointment for me.
"I attempted to play in two matches and I have a couple of stuff I wanted to show. I'm disappointed, but, as I say, it will give me more strength for next year."
Monfils revealed that he sustained the injury at the Stockholm Open last month and admitted taking part at the O2 Arena this week had been a gamble.
He added: "I hurt myself in Stockholm tournament. From then, you know, I just start to practice last Monday.
"You know, I knew it's going to be six weeks, they told me, of rest. I try to make it. I couldn't really make it."
