<p>Former world number one Novak Djokovic on Saturday withdrew from next week's Qatar Open, casting doubt on his participation at the Australian Open later in January.<br /><br />Qatar is the second tournament Djokovic has pulled out in as many days due to a niggling elbow injury.<br /><br />The 12-time Grand Slam champion was the top seed in Doha, but in a statement, he said he would not be able to defend the title he won by beating Andy Murray last year.<br /><br />His withdrawal comes just 24 hours after the injury forced him to drop out of an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.<br /><br />"Unfortunately, the situation with the elbow has not changed for the better since yesterday," said Djokovic.<br /><br />"I still feel the pain. Therefore, I will have to withdraw from (the) ATP tournament in Doha."<br /><br />The Serb added: "Only when I'm 100 percent ready to play, I will be able to come back.<br /><br />"I hope it will be soon. I want to thank everyone for patience and understanding."<br /><br />The latest announcement raises fresh doubts over the long-term future of the 30-year-old and more immediately his availability for the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open, which begins on January 15.<br /><br />In recent years, Djokovic has used the Qatar tournament as a valuable warm-up for the Australian Open.<br /><br />In 2016, after beating Rafa Nadal in the Qatar final he went on to claim his sixth Australian title.<br /><br />Last year in Doha, he ended the world number one Murray's 28-match winning streak to claim his second Qatar title in a riveting final.<br /><br />Djokovic was targeting Doha as his first match since his quarter-finals loss at Wimbledon in July this year.<br /><br />Austria's Dominic Thiem, world ranked number five, has now been made the Qatar Open number one seed.<br /><br />The draw for the tournament takes place later on Saturday.<br /><br />Qatar Open tournament director admitted Djokovic 'will surely be missed'.</p>
<p>Former world number one Novak Djokovic on Saturday withdrew from next week's Qatar Open, casting doubt on his participation at the Australian Open later in January.<br /><br />Qatar is the second tournament Djokovic has pulled out in as many days due to a niggling elbow injury.<br /><br />The 12-time Grand Slam champion was the top seed in Doha, but in a statement, he said he would not be able to defend the title he won by beating Andy Murray last year.<br /><br />His withdrawal comes just 24 hours after the injury forced him to drop out of an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.<br /><br />"Unfortunately, the situation with the elbow has not changed for the better since yesterday," said Djokovic.<br /><br />"I still feel the pain. Therefore, I will have to withdraw from (the) ATP tournament in Doha."<br /><br />The Serb added: "Only when I'm 100 percent ready to play, I will be able to come back.<br /><br />"I hope it will be soon. I want to thank everyone for patience and understanding."<br /><br />The latest announcement raises fresh doubts over the long-term future of the 30-year-old and more immediately his availability for the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open, which begins on January 15.<br /><br />In recent years, Djokovic has used the Qatar tournament as a valuable warm-up for the Australian Open.<br /><br />In 2016, after beating Rafa Nadal in the Qatar final he went on to claim his sixth Australian title.<br /><br />Last year in Doha, he ended the world number one Murray's 28-match winning streak to claim his second Qatar title in a riveting final.<br /><br />Djokovic was targeting Doha as his first match since his quarter-finals loss at Wimbledon in July this year.<br /><br />Austria's Dominic Thiem, world ranked number five, has now been made the Qatar Open number one seed.<br /><br />The draw for the tournament takes place later on Saturday.<br /><br />Qatar Open tournament director admitted Djokovic 'will surely be missed'.</p>