Djokovic advances, despite . . .

MADRID. — Novak Djokovic moved into the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters tennis tournament yesterday without hitting a ball as Kei Nishikori withdrew with a wrist injury, tournament organisers said. The world number eight missed the Barcelona Open late last month due to the recurring problem. Nishikori is now also a major doubt for the Rome Masters next week with 10 days to go until the start of the French Open.>>>

MADRID. - Novak Djokovic moved into the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters tennis tournament yesterday without hitting a ball as Kei Nishikori withdrew with a wrist injury, tournament organisers said.

The world number eight missed the Barcelona Open late last month due to the recurring problem.

Nishikori is now also a major doubt for the Rome Masters next week with 10 days to go until the start of the French Open.

“I will plan to play Rome, but we’ll see,” said the Japanese.

“I cannot promise to play or pull out right now. (The) French is more important.”

Djokovic will either renew his rivalry with Rafael Nadal or face Belgium’s David Goffin in the last four today.

On the other side of the draw Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas advanced to his first ever Masters series semi-final by outlasting German wonder kid Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-0, 6-4.

Zverev had been on a seven-match victory streak after winning his second title of the season in Munich last week. - AFP.