Tuesday, May 23 2006 16:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Paris: Argentina's 2004 French Open finalist Guillermo Coria withdrew from this year's tournament because of a right elbow injury, organisers announced on Monday.

Coria has been in something of a freefall this year, failing regularly on his favoured claycourt surface and has tumbled to 22 in the world rankings.

Coria will be replaced by Austrian Oliver Marach in the tournament.

The organisers also rounded off their wild card invitations by handing ones to Frenchman Olivier Patience and former top 10 women's star Alicia Molik of Australia.

Molik's compatriot Nathan Healey also received one while Frenchman Jean-Christophe Faurel and compatriot Youlia Fedossova were other beneficiaries.

Molik, aged 24, was as high as number eight in the world but has tumbled to 489th. She has not played for several months because of an internal ear problem which has caused her visual and balance problems.