Nishikori withdrawal sends Djokovic into Madrid semis

12 May 2017 - 16:00 By AFP
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Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori drops his racket during his match against Spanish player David Ferrer at the ATP Madrid Open in Madrid, on May 11, 2017.
Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori drops his racket during his match against Spanish player David Ferrer at the ATP Madrid Open in Madrid, on May 11, 2017.
Image: OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP

Novak Djokovic moved into the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters on Friday without hitting a ball as Kei Nishikori withdrew citing the recurrence of a wrist injury, tournament organisers said.

The Japanese world number eight missed the Barcelona Open late last month due to the injury.

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.

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

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