Andy Murray withdraws from Madrid Open with illness before Novak Djokovic clash

Andy Murray has been forced to pull out of the Madrid Open with illness, less than an hour before he was set to take on old foe Novak Djokovic.

The Scot was preparing to face the world no 1 in the last-16 in the Spanish capital but he was taken sick overnight and didn’t feel fit enough to take on the Serbian.

The two-time Wimbledon champion has battled back from career-threatening hip surgery in the last 18 months and was due to face Djokovic for the first time in five years in Madrid.

However, Murray was forced to pull out on the cusp of his clash, in what is bound to be a bitter pill to swallow for the Scot.

<p lang=«en» dir=«ltr» xml:lang=«en»>Unfortunately, Andy Murray is unable to take to the Manolo Santana Stadium due to illness ð We wish you a speedy recovery, @andy_murray! ð ðï¸ Instead, Andrey Rublev and Daniel Evans will open the day’s play on centre court. pic.twitter.com/0QdLyh7qhl

‘Unfortunately Andy Murray is unable to take to the Manolo Santana Stadium due to illness,’ the Madrid Open’s official Twitter account tweeted.

‘We wish you a speedy recovery, Andy Murray.

‘Instead Andrey Rublev and Daniel Evans will open the day’s play on centre court.’

Emma Raducanu provides injury update after latest problem in Madrid Open defeat

Andy Murray criticises Wimbledon's decision to ban Russian stars: 'I feel bad for them'

Emma Raducanu reveals new focus after 'tough' decision to split with coach Torben Beltz

Murray had been relishing the opportunity to take on Djokovic, in what felt like a significant milestone in his recovery from hip surgery.

The Scot insisted he had ‘no chance’ of beating the Serbian but that the clash was a good representation of his improvement in the last six months.

‘He’s the world number one and