ANDY Murray has been forced to withdraw from his Madrid Open match against Novak Djokovic.
The Scot advanced to the third round having played some of his best tennis in years.
But shortly before the match was scheduled to start on Thursday, the former world number dropped out due to illness.
Murray overcame world number 14 Denis Shapovalov 6-1 3-6 6-2 on Tuesday to set up the last-16 match.
It would have been the first time the pair had faced each other in five years.
The rivals have known each other since they were children and faced-off 36 times in their professional careers.
“He’s the world number one and I’ve got a metal hip,” Murray told Amazon Prime.
“I didn’t know I’d get opportunities to play matches like this again. In theory I shouldn’t have a chance in the match.
“But I’ve worked my hardest, put myself in a great position and it’s a fantastic opportunity to play against him again on a big court in a huge tournament.”
Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans also booked their places in the last 16.
British number one Norrie beat big-serving American John Isner in three sets, winning 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-4.
The 26-year-old, ranked 11th in the world, was able to find decisive breaks at key moments of the first and third sets to make it through and set up a date with rising star Carlos Alcaraz.
Evans, who has been short of wins lately, posted an impressive 6-3 5-7 7-6 (2) success over home favourite Roberto Bautista Agut and will next play world number eight Andrey Rublev.
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