Defending champion Pierce withdraws from French Open

Defending champion Mary Pierce has withdrawn from the French Open with a recurring back injury, a Women's Tennis Association spokesman said on Wednesday.

Pierce, the world number 17, is suffering from a chronic inflammation of the lumbar spine.

The French player has been plagued by injuries this season, back problems forcing her withdrawal from a tournament in Amelia Island and hampering her efforts in Charleston last month.

Tournaments in Rome and Strasbourg were part of her preparations for Roland Garros, but the decision to pull out was taken after her first match in Strasbourg on Tuesday evening.

"After much thought, deliberation and lengthy consultation with the medical staff, I have come to the very difficult decision to withdraw from the French Open," Pierce said.

"I am deeply disappointed and sad to be unable to defend my title. I have great memories from last year and I was looking forward to reliving them. My feelings go out to my fans whom I'm sure will understand my difficult decision.

"The whole year I have been returning to the game too soon and have not given my body enough time to heal and recover. I don't want to take the risk of aggravating my existing injury or sustaining another one.

"I will be returning home for further investigation and will take the necessary time to recover completely and be back in top shape."

The last time a French Open champion failed to defend her title because of injury was Monica Seles in 1993 after she was stabbed by a fanatical Steffi Graf supporter in Hamburg.