Magician Santoro produces final disappearing act

By Patrick Vignal

PARIS (Reuters) - Frenchman Fabrice Santoro brought down the curtain on a remarkable and atypical career by losing to American James Blake in the first round of the Paris Masters on Sunday.

The oldest player on the men's circuit, Santoro, who will turn 37 next month, confirmed after a 6-4 6-3 defeat that he was now retiring.

"I've had lots of fun but now it is time to take a break," he said after his 15th and final Paris Masters appearance.

The pocket-sized Santoro, once nicknamed "the magician" by Pete Sampras for his habit of mystifying bigger, stronger opponents, had earlier suggested he might play the Australian Open in January before bowing out.

"It was a good match played in a great atmosphere and that's what I wanted," said Santoro, who traded shirts with Blake and was hugged by the American after match point.

"I don't feel sad, I even feel relieved in a way," added the Frenchman, who played a record 69 grand slam tournaments, won six titles in a career spanning over 20 years and took part in France's Davis Cup-winning campaigns in 1991 and 2001.

The Tahiti-born player, whose plans include working as a radio pundit and taking over the management of the Metz ATP tournament, peaked at number 17 in the rankings in 2001 and retires as world number 53.

"It's been great but I was finding it more and more difficult to train," he said. "What I'm really proud of is that I did the very best I could given my potential."