Former world squash champion Gregory Gaultier will miss the entirety of the season after undergoing knee surgery ©Getty Images

Former world squash champion Gregory Gaultier will miss the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery.

The Frenchman, also a former world number one, is now aiming to return in 2019.

He has withdrawn from the Qatar Classic, a tournament he won in 2011 and which is due to begin this year on October 27.

Gaultier injured his right knee during his quarter-final clash with Egypt's Ali Farag at the US Open earlier this month.

No exact timescale has been given on when he can return to the court.

The Frenchman injured his knee at the US Open ©Getty Images
The Frenchman injured his knee at the US Open ©Getty Images

The 35-year-old won his world title in 2015 in Bellevue in the United States.

He beat Egypt's Omar Mosaad in straight games in the final after previously being the runner-up on four occasions.

Gaultier has also won the prestigious British Open three times and won the World Games gold medal in Cali, Colombia, in 2013.