Tennis-Veteran Santoro eyes unusual record in Australian Open

LYON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Veteran Frenchman Fabrice Santoro hinted he could go back on his retirement plans and take part in next year's Australian Open after his first-round defeat at the Lyon Grand Prix on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old had previously said he would end his career at the end of this season. If he does make it to Melbourne in January, he would have played in a grand slam tournament in each of four consecutive decades.

"Since a Canadian reporter told me I would be the first to achieve such a feat, I keep on saying to myself that it would be nice, it would be an uncommon record," Santoro, who made his Grand Slam debut in Roland Garros in 1989, told reporters after his first-round defeat by Spaniard Albert Montanes in Lyon.

"But if I want to be able to play five-set games in Melbourne, I must not go skiing in December. I won't make that decision thoughtlessly. Australian Open or not, the Paris-Bercy tournament will put the real end to my career," he added about next month's Masters tournament in the French capital.

Santoro lost 6-4 6-4 to Spanish eighth seed Albert Montanes in Lyon.

(Reporting by Eric Salliot; Writing by Bertrand Boucey in Paris; Editing by Ed Osmond. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)