Tennis player withdraws from Cincinnati tennis tournament with illness

20:51 - 14 August 2017

France's Gael Monfils, pictured in July 2017, has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Masters tournament, citing illness, and his spot will be filled by Indian lucky loser Ramkumar Ramanathan

Frances 21st-ranked Gael Monfils withdrew from the ATP Cincinnati Masters tournament on Monday due to illness.

The flamboyant 30-year-old from Paris is coming off a third-round exit at Montreal after defeating Japan's ninth-ranked Kei Nishikori in the second round last week.

A week earlier, Monfils was ousted in the first round defending his most recent of six career ATP titles at Washington, falling to Indian qualifier Yuki Bhambri.

Replacing Monfils in the Cincinnati draw will be Indian lucky loser Ramkumar Ramanathan, who meets US qualifier Chris Eubanks in the opening round.