Nalbandian reached the last four at Roland Garros in 2004 and 2006

Argentina's David Nalbandian is the latest player to pull out of the French Open, which gets underway on Sunday.

The 28-year-old, twice a semi-finalist in Paris, has struggled with a hamstring problem for the last month but hopes to return for Wimbledon.

Nalbandian joins compatriot Juan Martin del Potro, Russia's Nikolay Davydenko and France's Gilles Simon as absentees.

On the women's side, former number one Kim Clijsters has been forced to withdraw because of an ankle injury.

The 26-year-old US Open champion, ranked 10th in the world, has opted to end her clay-court season because of a build-up of fluid on her ankle.

A two-time French Open runner-up, her absence will be a particular disappointment considering her impressive form since her return to action last summer after a two-and-a-half year break from tennis.

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She won the US Open for the second time last September, and this year she has added the Sony Ericsson title in Miami, beating Venus Williams in the final.

But she said ending her clay-court season would allow her to focus on getting back to full fitness for the rest of the summer, when she is expected to play at Eastbourne before appearing at Wimbledon.

"I will continue my recovery to be totally up for the season on grass," she said on her own website.

"It's really a shame to give up on Roland Garros. Paris is so close I always feel a little at home. And that's where I played my first grand slam final.

"But the foot pain forces me to throw in the towel."

Davydenko, the world number six, has not been able to play since the middle of March because of a wrist problem.

The Russian was the second world top 10-ranked player to pull out of Roland Garros following Del Potro's withdrawal, also because of a wrist injury.

Simon, the world number 32 who was formerly ranked as high as six, has suffered from chronic inflammation in his knee for nearly a year and has not played since 7 April.

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