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Ex-No 1s Ferrero, Roddick pull out of French Open

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-20 11:21

PARIS - Former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero and Andy Roddick pulled out of the French Open on Thursday after failing to recover from right shoulder injuries.

Related readings: Roddick a doubt for French Open

Ferrero, champion at Roland Garros in 2003 and runner-up in 2002, has played only five matches this year. He's ranked 72nd.

Roddick, who beat Ferrero in the 2003 US Open final, pulled out of the Italian Open doubles final last weekend and this week's Open de Nice to give himself a chance of recovering in time for Roland Garros, which starts on Sunday.

Roddick, ranked 11th, has lost his last four singles since mid-March.

His best result at Roland Garros was the fourth round in 2009.

Organizers also said that 78th-ranked Richard Berankis of Lithuania pulled out because of a hip injury. All three men will be replaced in the field by a player who lost in qualifying.