Aces' Monfils pulls out of 1st round at US Open

NEW YORK – A back injury forced 16th-seeded Gael Monfils to stop playing his first-round US Open match against Illya Marchenko while trailing 2-6, 6-4, 5-0, Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Monfils fell onto his back early in the second set.

The #Monfils fall. pic.twitter.com/XV9CbYAS8K

— lauren (@laurenobern) September 1, 2015

"I couldn't play, couldn't move, couldn't do anything," said Monfils, twice a quarterfinalist at the US Open and a crowd favorite at Flushing Meadows.

He has bothered by his back throughout the summer. He lost in the second round at Montreal and the first round at Cincinnati earlier this month.

Monfils is set to suit up for the Indian Aces in the International Premier Tennis League this December.