PARIS(AP) Mikhail Youzhny retired from his second round match at the Paris Masters on Tuesday, relinquishing any hope of qualifying for the ATP Finals later this month.
The ninth-seeded Russian retired while trailing against Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-4, 3-0. He withdrew from last week's tournament in Valencia with a back injury.
Youzhny was in 10th place in the ATP Finals race and needed to reach the final in Paris to have a chance to qualify.
Three berths for the London event from Nov. 21-28 are up for grabs in Paris, with five players still fighting for a spot at the year-end tournament: Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer, Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco and Jurgen Melzer.
Gulbis will next play either Roddick of Jarkko Nieminen of Finland.