Darling of the home crowd Fabrice Santoro and charismatic Russian Marat Safin bowed out of the ATP tournament here on Tuesday in their final season as professionals.

Former US and Australian Open champion Safin lost 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to Frenchman Arnaud Clement while 36-year-old Santoro, playing in the tournament for the 11th time, was beaten by compatriot Julien Benneteau 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.