Australian Open champion Marat Safin has pulled out of this month's St Petersburg Open and is doubtful for the Paris Masters.
The world number four said on his official website on Sunday he has yet to fully recover from a ligament tear in his left knee that has troubled him since Wimbledon and forced him to withdraw from the U.S. Open.
"The knee is not yet ready," Safin said, adding he would fly to Paris on Monday to resume training, hoping to be fit in time to defend the title he won in Bercy last year.
The St Petersburg Open, where Safin was top seed, begins on October 24 and the Paris Masters the following week.
The Russian, who pulled out of this week's Kremlin Cup, wants to play in Paris and the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.
