Richard Gasquet's outstanding 2005 season has been cut short by an elbow injury.

Gasquet, who did not play his first ATP-level match in 2005 until Masters Series Monte-Carlo, had climbed to No. 11 in the INDESIT ATP 2005 Race with a chance of qualifying for Tennis Masters Cup.

But the elbow injury - which had restrictd him to just one tournament since the US Open (he reached the quarterfinals in Metz, losing to countryman Gael Monfils) has forced an early end to his year.

"I am very disappointed to have to stop my season now and miss the two ATP Masters Series events in Madrid and Paris as well as the Lyon tournament, but it was the best decision to take given my elbow injury," Gasquet said.

"I will now rest for six weeks without touching a racquet but will do some physical work. I am very happy about my season 2005 for my first ATP title in Nottigham and the victory over No. 1 Roger Federer in Monte Carlo. I will now rest for a little while then prepare well for 2006."

Gasquet has a 31-11 record in 2005 and was just one of three people to beat Federer during the year when he saved match points against the World No. 1 in the Monte-Carlo quarterfinals.