Becker misses French Open

THE three time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker has pulled out of next week's French Open because of a thigh injury.

The German said he needed to take a break of at least 10 days because of a muscle problem which requires intensive treatment.

Becker was forced to pull out of yesterday's singles match against clay court specialist Sergi Bruguera at the World Team Cup in Dusseldorf.

David Prinosil was named as his replacement in Germany's round robin group match against Spain.

Becker had chosen to play in the Dusseldorf tournament for the first time in six years so he could work on his clay court game.

On Monday, the 28 year old, who has never won a clay court tournament, lost his opening match against Swiss Marc Rosset in straight sets.

Becker said he had torn a muscle in his right thigh in two places during his match against Rosset.

"I can't do anything for 10 to 14 days," he said. "I am very disappointed."

"I felt the muscle go extremely tight in the match but I thought it was not so bad," he said. "I have had one injection already. I can't say much positive about the injury. My main goal was Paris. I haven't been thinking about Wimbledon."

He will now return to his home town of Munich to get intensive treatment.