Novak Djokovic: Defending champion to miss Madrid Open

World number one Novak Djokovic will not defend his Madrid Open title after pulling out of next month’s event.
The Serb, 33, said he was sorry he would not be able to travel to Madrid for the Masters 1000 event which starts on Sunday, four weeks before the French Open
“It’s been two years already, quite a long time,” he added. “Hope to see you all next year.”
Last year’s Madrid event was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Djokovic was stunned last weekend by Russian world number 28 Aslan Karatsev in the semi-finals of the Serbia Open and earlier this month lost to Britain’s Dan Evans in Monte Carlo.
The Serb won his 18th Grand Slam title in February with victory at the Australian Open.
He is expected to play in Rome and Belgrade next month as part of his preparations for the French Open, which starts on 30 May.
Tottenham Hotspur will go for Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo if they are to part ways with Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho is under intense pressure at Spurs following a spate of poor performances with reports rife that the club might show him the door if they fail to qualify for Europe.
Report claims that Levy is a major fan of Santo, who led the club out of the Championship three years ago and has taken them to the Europa League quarter-finals and two seventh-placed Premier League finishes.
Spurs are currently lying six points outside the Champions League places and three away from the Europa League qualification slots with Mourinho saying over the weekend that it would be difficult for them to finish among the best six teams in the division.