Cincinnati - Olympic tennis quarter-finalist Gael Monfils has pulled out of Cincinnati Masters with a back problem, the organisers said on Thursday.
Monfils now has just ten days to get himself fit ahead of the US Open following an intense Rio 2016, where he was edged by Japan's Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals.
The world number 11 said pain was restricting his mobility and that this was not the time to get injured.
"It's just not worth risking it If I'm not on top form for the match anyway," he explained.
Before pulling out the Frenchman beat Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-0, 7-5 on Wednesday and his withdrawal leaves Austria's Dominic Thiem a bye in the third round.