Djokovic pulls out of Madrid to rest before French Open

[April 30, 2015]  MADRID (Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week's Madrid Open for a second consecutive year to rest before the Rome Masters and the French Open, organizers of the clay Masters event said on Wednesday.

"The Serb announced that ... he will take time out to rest before continuing with his planned calendar at the Rome and Roland Garros tournaments," a statement on the Madrid Open's official site said.

Djokovic has been in imperious form this year, following up his triumph at the Australian Open with victories at the Masters events in Miami, Indian Wells and Monte Carlo.

With Rafa Nadal yet to get back to top form after illness and injury, many expect Djokovic to end the Spaniard's reign on clay at the French Open, the only one of the four slams the Serb has yet to conquer.

(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Toby Davis)

[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.