Rotterdam: Richard Gasquet handed the Rotterdam World Tennis tournament another box office body blow as the top seed quit on Tuesday a day before his opening match with a groin strain.

The pullout came a week after Roger Federer was unable to play after undergoing knee surgery which will keep him off the ATP for at least a month. Frenchman Gasquet said that he felt his pain the day before winning the Montpellier tournament for the third time at the weekend. The 29-year-old ranked 13th came to Rotterdam in hopes he could heal but said that he is also now feeling ill and had no choice but to quit the indoor event.