French stars to miss the Olympics

Pierce is a former French and Australian Open champion

French duo Mary Pierce and Amelie Mauresmo have both withdrawn from the Olympic tennis tournament.

Pierce, like her rival a two-time Grand Slam champion, had been chosen for the singles ahead of Mauresmo despite not playing since knee surgery in 2006.

When Pierce pulled out Mauresmo was initially named as her replacement, but it was then announced she would not go.

Pauline Parmentier, 22, will now represent France in both the singles and doubles in Beijing.

Parmentier is ranked 40th in the world and won her second career title in Bad Gastein, Austria, on Sunday after beating Czech Republic's Lucie Hradecka in straight sets.

It had already been announced that Mauresmo would not play the doubles in Beijing in order to prepare for the US Open.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands' Robin Haase and Michaella Krajicek have also withdrawn because of injury, and will be replaced by Austria's Jurgen Melzer and Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine respectively.