The announcement comes ahead of the 2021 US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York which gets underway next week Monday.

The King of Clay is battling with a foot injury which led to him withdrawing from the North America swing on the ATP Tour.

The four-time champion at Flushing Meadows confirmed the news via an social media post.

“Honestly, I have been suffering a lot more than I should with my foot for a year and I need to take some time.

“Having discussed it with the team and family, this decision has been made and I believe that it is the way forward to try to recover and recover well.

“I am determined to do whatever it takes to regain the best possible shape, to continue competing for the things that really motivate me and the things that I have done during all these years.

“I am convinced that with the recovery of the foot and obviously a very important daily effort this can be achieved. I will work as hard as I can to make it happen.”

The news comes as a major blow for the year's final Grand Slam, especially seeing that Roger Federer and the defending men's champion, Dominic Thiem, announced that they will not be playing at the hardcourt event.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport