Former world number one Marat Safin of Russia has been granted a wildcard for the Monte Carlo Masters which starts on Sunday.

Last month, organisers announced that triple French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil would be invited to play in the Masters Series event.

Kuerten is due to retire after next month's French Open.

Croatia's Mario Ancic and Frenchman Jean-Rene Lisnard have also been handed Monte Carlo wildcards.

But Australian Open runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has withdrawn after failing to recover from the knee injury which forced him out of last weekend's Davis Cup tie against the United States.

Reuters