Asian number one Paradorn Srichaphan and Spain's Nicolas Almagro became the latest two players to hobble away from the injury--hit Paris Masters on Tuesday. Thai star Paradorn quit his first round match against Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela when he complained of dizziness and illness.
Paradorn was trailing 6-3, 3-0 at the time and, clearly in distress, shook hands after just 42 minutes of one-sided action. Almagro was behind 6-3, 5-4 to Russian 15th seed Dimitry Tursunov when he also pulled out from their second round match.
Tuesday's retirements came just a day after world number one Roger Federer opted out of the event joining Rafael Nadal, David Nalbandian, Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick on the sidelines and the tournament without five of the world's top 10.
The withdrawals infuriated ATP chief Etienne de Villiers who pledged to strengthen moves to stamp out the problem. "It reinforces my determination to introduce meaningful change to the calendar, the structure, the incentives and sanctions needed to have healthy, motivated players grace our top events," said the South African.
Chela now faces Britain's Andy Murray, the 13th seed, for a place in the third round while Tursunov takes on fellow Russian, the fourth seeded Nikolay Davydenko, the top ranked player left in the competition.
Chela put Murray out in the first round of the Australian Open in January which led to the Scottish teenager hitting out at the pressure he felt he was being put under by the British media. "He's improved a lot since Australia," said the Argentinian. "It will be a completely different match to the one in Australia."
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