( CNN ) -- Novak Djokovic 's preparations for the French Open later this month have suffered a worrying setback as the world number two was forced to withdraw from this week 's Madrid Open . Djokovic has suffered a recurrence of the right arm injury which hindered him at the Monte Carlo Masters three weeks ago , but was apparently healed . He is still hoping to be fit for the Rome Masters which starts next Sunday . `` I am very sorry for the Madrid tournament and all the Spanish fans to have to pull out of the Mutua Madrid Open , '' said Djokovic told the official ATP Tour website Sunday . `` I did everything possible in order to play in Madrid , which is one of the biggest events of the year , but unfortunately my right arm injury has flared up again . `` Now I will take some time to recover and heal my injury , hoping I will be ready for Rome . I look forward to returning to Madrid next year . '' The Serbian won in Madrid three years ago during his triumphant 2011 season and was looking for a repeat at Caja Magica in the Spanish capital . His absence may pave the way for world number Rafael Nadal to make a successful defense of his Madrid title but he has also been far from dominant in recent weeks . Defeats to fellow Spaniards David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro in Monte Carlo and Barcelona were unexpected , but Nadal is shrugging them off . `` I 've already said it several times . I did n't try to win Monte Carlo 12 times or Barcelona 12 times . Maybe that is n't normal . This is the reality of the situation , '' he said ahead of the Madrid tournament . `` Maybe it 's normal to lose three times in the quarterfinals . Maybe what 's not normal is what happened during the past nine years . '' Nadal beat Monte Carlo winner Stanislas Wawrinka in last year 's final and believes he can go all the way again this year . `` I 'm here to fight and to try to play even better , '' said Nadal . `` I do n't think I have to change many things . I think I can change very small things , and the change can be quite drastic and quite big . That 's what I 'm working on right now. `` Meanwhile in the WTA event in Madrid , Maria Sharapova continued her superb recent form as she routed Klara Koukalova in the first round . Sharapova , who won her 30th WTA Tour title in such impressive style in Stuttgart last week , beat Koukalova 6-1 6-2 . In the women 's doubles tournament , Martina Hingis rolled back the years again as she paired with Germany 's Sabine Lisicki to beat seventh seeds Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova in a first round clash . They were a set then 4-1 down in the match tie-break before going through 3-6 6-2 10-6 victory . But there was sad news released late on Sunday , with the announcement that former top 50 WTA player and British No.1 Elena Baltacha has died aged 30 . Baltacha was diagnosed with liver cancer in January , just two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino . `` We are heartbroken beyond words , '' Severino said in a statement released by her family . Baltacha was the daughter of former football star Sergei Baltacha , who starred for Ipswich in the English top-flight after playing for the old Soviet Union .
Novak Djokovic forced out of Madrid Open with injury . Right arm problem flares up again . Injury first hit Djokovic at Monte Carlo Masters . Former British No.1 Elena Baltacha dies of liver cancer .