Monfils withdraws from San Jose with knee injury

SAN JOSE, CALIF. (AP) - Top-seed Gael Monfils has withdrawn from the SAP Open because of right knee inflammation, even though he never played a meaningful match in San Jose.

The Frenchman said Wednesday night he also plans to withdraw from next week’s ATP Tour stop in Memphis and take a brief break from tennis. He will have an MRI on both knees when he returns home.

Monfils had been scheduled to play qualifier Dimitar Kutrovsky in the second round Thursday.

Monfils teamed with Steve Johnson in a light-hearted exhibition doubles match loss against John McEnroe and Jack Sock on Monday. He also helped France defeat Canada in the first round of the Davis Cup on Sunday.

Monfils says he hopes to return for the Sony Ericsson Open beginning March 21 in Key Biscayne, Fla.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.