Paris (AFP)

The table of the Masters 1000 of Paris lost big Monday, with the packages already before their entry in the lists of the interplanetary star Roger Federer and the national star Richard Gasquet.

But if the Swiss, N.3 world and winner Sunday for the 10th time at home in Basel, decided to preserve for the Masters of London and the rest of his career, the French sadly ended injury to a difficult season .

"I am extremely disappointed to have to retire, I have to spare myself because I want to play as long as possible on the ATP Tour I am sorry for my French fans that I will see next year at Roland Garros", said Federer, semi-finalist last year and winner in 2011 but not very diligent in his participation in the tournament in Paris.

At 38, he won four titles this year, including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, who could have faced Switzerland in the semi-finals. So far, only Dominic Thiem (5th) has done better with 5 trophies in 2019.

"I am obviously disappointed by this package and especially for the public," commented tournament director Guy Forget. "Nevertheless, this 2019 edition promises to be exciting, full of challenges including the allocation of the last places for (the Masters of) London and the place of N.1 world end of the year".

- Prestige -

This prestigious place which awards the best player of the year is played between Djokovic, N.1 by approaching Bercy, and Nadal, which will be N.1 whatever happens the day after the Parisian final. The Serb must however score a maximum of points in Paris to hope to return to his throne in London.

Federer package is the lucky Italian loser Andreas Seppi (74th) who, after his defeat in qualifying, will find himself directly in the second round of the main draw against Moldovan Radu Albot (50th).

A few hours after the announcement of the Federer package, another withdrawal hit Paris, that of Gasquet, injured left knee.

"A cyst story after the first match in Basel and it still has not happened ... I tried to play a little this morning (Monday) but I saw right away that it was not past", said the 62nd world player.

Last week, Gasquet had reached the second round of the ATP 500 tournament in Basel where he gave in to the Spanish Roberto Bautista Agut (10th) after having equalized to a set everywhere (6-2, 4-6, 6- 3).

The former world No.7 had conceded his sixth loss in eight games.

- "Back to bottom" -

"I'm disappointed that I can not finish the season better, it's a shame not to finish at Bercy," said the 33-year-old who reached the semi-finals in Paris in 2007.

Since his semi-final at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 in August, Gasquet has played six tournaments without ever passing the second round. On four occasions, he has even been eliminated from the start, especially at the US Open where he lost to future semifinalist Matteo Berrettini.

"It's been 15 years that I'm on the circuit, the accumulation of all these years, it pays a little, I hope to hold another year or two ... In any case, the desire is still there", a- he said hoping "to make a good offseason to return to 2020 thoroughly".

Gasquet has won 15 ATP titles in his career but none this year. His last trophy dates back to 2018 when he won on the turf of Hertogenbosch.

In the first round in Paris, he had to face Dusan Lajovic (34th). It is his French compatriot Corentin Moutet, 97th and lucky loser, who will be opposed to the Serbian.

© 2019 AFP