Men's French tennis veteran Fabrice Santoro lost his final French Open match on Wednesday in four sets to Belgium's Christophe Rochus.

The scores were 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 4-6. The match, Santoro's record-equaling 20th French Open appearance before a partisan crowd at Roland Garros, was suspended Tuesday because of darkness.

Santoro is retiring at season's end. When play was called Tuesday, Rochus led 5-3 in the fourth set. Rochus needed just eight minutes Wednesday to complete his victory and advance to the second round.

 "I wanted to have played a tight match," Santoro said "I wanted emotions. I think I served well (but) I wish I had won the fourth set to be able to play the fifth."

The Tahiti-born Santoro has played in a men's tennis record 67 grand slam tournaments and his best showing was advancing to the fourth round at the French in 1991 and 2001 and the Australian Open in 1999.  With his participation in the 2008 Australian Open, he broke Andre Agassi's record in Grand Slam appearances over his career with a total of 62 participations (Agassi's record was 61).

Santoro has defeated 17 players who were ranked World No. 1 at some time during their careers including the likes of Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Roger Federer

Santoro can also claim to have won the longest singles match in the open era. At the 2004 French Open, he beat fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clément in a 6h 33m first round match 6–4, 6–3, 6–7(5), 3–6, 16–14,