Paris  - The back-pain drama which has limited Marcos Baghdatis to just 24 ATP starts this season came back to haunt the Cypriot as he was forced to retire for the third time in four matches on Monday at the Paris Masters.

The 2006 Australian Open finalist has struggled in the 2008 season with ankle and back problems. But after completing a match last week in Basle - even a loss - his spirits were again rising.

That all ended at the Bercy arena as American Sam Querrey earned a victory 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 3-2 when Baghdatis was again frustratingly forced to retire.

"I tried to fight without taking any risks but I felt today that if I had continued, I would have had problems after that. So I preferred to stop," said Baghdatis, his ranking down to
59th.

"I felt a sharp pain and I didn't want to take any risk. I didn't want to need a lot of time to come back again."

Baghdatis also failed to go the match distance last month in Metz and in a Challenger in Orleans. "It's not been an easy season; that's for sure. It was tough, but that's life, this is the way it is."

Baghdatis, coached by one-time Roger Federer mentor Peter Lundgren, said he will work in the off-season "to find solutions and try to work properly in order to avoid any further injuries.

"If I can do that I will come back very strongly. This is a major disappointment."

Querrey, who lost in the first round a year ago after qualifying, will next face fourth seed Andy Murray, now bidding to win a third straight Masters after claiming Cincinnati and Madrid this season in addition to the St Petersburg title at the weekend.

In other first-round matches while seeds have byes, Croatian Marin Cilic put out Italian Andreas Seppi 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 while Italy's Simone Bolelli took revenge as he beat Finn Jarkko Nieminen 7-5, 6-4.

Federer confirmed that he will play in this week's event a day after winning his hometown title in Basle for the third straight year.

The world number two had been in doubt for the final event of the regular ATP season, with his place in the year-end Masters Cup already assured in Shanghai from November 9. (dpa)