World number two Novak Djokovic has pulled out of next week’s Miami Open because of an elbow injury.
The 29-year-old Serb is the second big name to withdraw from the event, after world number one Andy Murray did likewise for the same reason.
Defending champion Djokovic apologised to fans who had bought tickets to see him play in Miami.
He lost to Australian Nick Kyrgios in straight sets in the last 16 at Indian Wells last week.
“My doctor has strongly advised against play because my elbow injury, that I keep carrying on for months, got worse in the past week,” he said.
“I will do everything in my power to recover and do all the necessary therapy to be able to return on court as soon as possible.”
Briton Murray will extend his lead at the top of the world rankings to more than 4,000 points as Djokovic will lose the points he earned from winning in Miami last year.
The Scot will lead the Serb by 3,090 points on Monday – but that will increase to more than 4,045 points at the beginning of next month.
Wawrinka And Federer Aim To Make Indian Wells History
Mar192017
Final highlights Sunday play at BNP Paribas Open
• The BNP Paribas Open championship on Sunday is an all-Swiss match-up between No. 3 seed Stan Wawrinka,and No. 9 seed Roger Federer. It is the first all-countrymen final in Indian Wells since 2001 when Andre Agassi defeated Pete Sampras. There have been four other all-American finals in the tournament’s 42-year history. Federer comes into his seventh Indian Wells final without losing a set or serve. Wawrinka is making his first appearance in the Indian Wells final. This is the oldest combined final in tournament history between Federer (35y, 7m) and Wawrinka (31y, 11m). The winner will become the oldest champion in tournament history, surpassing Jimmy Connors (31y, 5m), who captured the title in 1984.
• Federer owns a 19-3 head-to-head record, including 14-0 on hard courts. Federer won the two previous meetings here in 2011 QF (63 64) and 2013 4R (63 67 75). Wawrinka won the only final between the two at ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo in 2014. Wawrinka’s other two wins also came on clay at 2009 Monte-Carlo and 2015 Roland Garros, his last win. Federer has won the past three meetings, the last coming in a five-set semi-final at the Australian Open in January. The other all-Swiss ATP World Tour final came in 2000 Marseille as Marc Rosset beat Federer in a third set TB.
• Federer is trying to claim his record-tying fifth Indian Wells title (w/Djokovic), 25th ATP Masters 1000 crown and 90th overall title in his career. He won titles here in 2004-05-06 and 2012 while reaching finals in 2014-15. At 35, Federer is trying to become the oldest player to win an ATP Masters 1000 title. Andre Agassi was 34y, 3m, when he won in Cincinnati in 2004. Federer’s last ATP Masters 1000 title came in Cincinnati in 2015, two weeks after turning 34. He won that tournament without getting broken (held 49 service games). Federer has held all 37 service games (saving one break point vs. Nadal in 4R). He is 12-1 on the season, including 5-0 vs. Top 10 opponents, his best showing to start the year since 2004 when he went 18-0 and finished No. 1. Federer will move from No. 10 to No. 7 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday and if he wins the title, will move to No. 6. Federer is also trying to become the fourth two-time champion on the ATP World Tour this season. The others are: Grigor Dimitrov, Jack Sock and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
• Wawrinka is appearing in his fourth ATP Masters 1000 final (1-2), the first in the U.S. His lone ATP Masters 1000 title came in Monte-Carlo in 2014. Overall, he is 15-10 in career finals and his only previous final/title in the U.S. came at last year’s US Open where he defeated No. 1 Djokovic in the final for his third Grand Slam crown. Wawrinka has dropped two sets in five matches en route to the final, in wins over [LL} Nishioka in 4R and [8] Thiem in QF, both in third-set tie-breaks.
• Three of the Big Four (except Murray) have accounted for 12 of the past 13 Indian Wells titles going back to 2004 when Federer captured the first of his four titles (2004-06, 2012). Overall a Top 5 player in the Emirates ATP Rankings has lifted the champion’s trophy in 15 of the past 16 years, except 2010 when No. 26 Ivan Ljubicic won the title. Ljubicic is Federer’s coach.
Watch your favourite players work on their games by taking in a live stream at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Right elbow injury cuts Murray’s American swing short
World No. 1 Andy Murray has withdrawn from the Miami Open presented by Itau with a right elbow injury. The two-time Miami champion made the announcement on Saturday, confirming he will miss this event for the first time since 2005.
“Sadly due to a right elbow injury, I won’t be playing in Miami,” said Murray in a statement. “Apologies to the fans, it’s one of my favorite tournaments. The focus now is on getting ready for the clay season.”
Murray will likely rue missing the opportunity to increase his lead in the Emirates ATP Rankings over World No. 2 Novak Djokovic. He lost in the third round last year in Miami to Grigor Dimitrov, while Djokovic won the title for the third consecutive year.
#NextGenATP player Taylor Fritz will take Murray’s spot in the draw. The Miami Open presented by Itau runs from 22 March-2 April.
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