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Novak Djokovic is missing this year's Madrid Open after flying into a blind range at last year's tournament. This time last season, the 24-time Grand Slam winner was struggling for form in the build-up to the French Open and Wimbledon.

He was hoping for a strong showing in Madrid but clearly wasn't happy with his game. During a practice session in the Spanish capital, Djokovic was left fuming with a series of his shots and was captured on camera uttering: "F*** this sport, f*** tennis, f*** everything." Tennis fans found the funny side of the X-rated rant, with many suggesting that Andy Murray's mannerisms may have been rubbing off on him. Djokovic was working with Murray at the time as he built up to the upcoming Slams.

Djokovic openly admitted his game wasn't where he wanted it to be, which may have led to his frustration boiling over. He said at the time: "The priority is obviously trying to take the level of tennis that currently is maybe not where we want it to be to the higher level so that I can peak at the French Open. That's where I really want to play my best tennis, Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

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"Of course, we're in Madrid, we came in early. We're putting in a lot of hours in the court and in the gym, trying to perfect the body and the game and basically every aspect of my game to be a few per cent better than it was in the previous weeks.

"If I can reach that desired level in this tournament, that would be amazing. I don't have really high expectations and I really hope I can get through the first hurdle and then we'll take it from there."

But the frustration continued for the Serb as he suffered an early exit to Italian Matteo Arnaldi in straight sets. He went on to lose to Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon. At 38, is still striving for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.

By then, Djokovic and Murray had already ended their working relationship by mutual consent. Addressing the split, Djokovic said: "We both wanted to have a call and to speak. We both were on the same page.

"It was not his initiative or my initiative. It was both of us coming together and just saying, 'You know, I think we should stop here.' That's what it was."

There has been no repeat of his Madrid meltdown after Djokovic, along with Carlos Alcaraz, pulled out of the tournament.