Madrid: Global primary Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Madrid Masters on Saturday, becoming a member of Rafael Nadal in lacking the event with the French Open simply 5 weeks away.

Each males are vying for a record-extending twenty third Grand Slam identify at Roland Garros, with the event starting on Would possibly 28.

Djokovic, a two-time French Open winner, has been suffering with an elbow downside whilst Nadal, champion in Paris on 14 events, has been sidelined with a hip harm since January.

“Novak Djokovic is not able to compete on the Madrid Open,” the organisers wrote on Instagram forward of the event which begins April 26.

“Wishing you a fast restoration, we are hoping to peer you again on courtroom once imaginable, Nole.”

Australian Open champion Djokovic, 35, suffered a straight-sets defeat by means of Serbian compatriot Dusan Lajovic within the quarter-finals at Banja Luka in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday.

He used to be crushed by means of underdog Lorenzo Musetti on the Monte Carlo Masters previous in April and stated forward of the Bosnian match that his elbow used to be “now not in a super situation”.

Djokovic neglected tournaments previous this yr at Indian Wells and Miami, over his refusal to get a Covid-19 vaccination.

“I used to be many ranges under what I would like,” stated Djokovic on Friday, after his defeat by means of international quantity 70 Lajovic.

“Enjoying like that, I will be able to’t win towards fighters who’re so forged in this floor. However what can I do? It’s merely recreation. I used to be making an attempt however it wasn’t running.

“I didn’t really feel excellent bodily on courtroom. My legs had been sluggish, I neglected numerous balls. I performed neatly now and then, however usually neatly under same old.”

Djokovic has triumphed thrice in Madrid, however used to be crushed there final yr by means of Carlos Alcaraz within the semi-finals.

– No closing date –

Nadal, 36, has now not been in a position to play since dropping in the second one spherical of the Australian Open in January as a result of his hip factor.

He pulled out of final month’s hard-court tournaments in the USA, together with his attractions set on a go back firstly of the clay-court season, however it didn’t come to fruition.

“In idea it used to be intended to be a restoration duration of six to 8 weeks and now we’re round 14,” stated Nadal on Thursday when he pulled out of the Madrid Masters.

“The truth is that the placement isn’t what we might have was hoping for. All scientific indications were adopted, however the therapeutic has now not long gone as they advised us to begin with and we discover ourselves in a troublesome scenario.”

Nadal, who turns 37 in June, stated he and his workforce have determined to take a look at a distinct remedy and spot if issues fortify, however that he used to be now not environment a closing date for his comeback.

“I will be able to’t give points in time as a result of if I knew I might let you know, however I don’t know,” he added. “That is how issues at the moment are.”

Nadal has featured in each version of the French Open since his title-winning debut in 2005 and boasts an astonishing list of 112 wins towards simply 3 losses — two of them coming towards Djokovic.