Monfils out of Tokyo, Shanghai

Paris - French star Gael Monfils, in a race to get fit in time for the Davis Cup, has announced he is pulling out of upcoming ATP events in Tokyo and Shanghai.

The Davis Cup alarm bells were set off last week when the flamboyant world number 16 suffered a knee injury in a Metz ATP semi-final loss.

And on Thursday he revealed: "Unfortunately I have to pull out of the tournaments in Tokyo (starting on Monday) and Shanghai (October 5) because of my knee," Monfils said.

"I'm working hard to return as quickly as possible."

France, with or without Monfils, face Switzerland in the Davis Cup final in Lille starting on November 21.