The US Open gets underway a month from today with the warm-up events just getting started.
Next week will be the Citi Open in Washington where the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem will all be in action.
But two of the big three were set to begin their US Open preparations a week later at the Rogers Cup in Canada.
Roger Federer had already pulled out two weeks ago, instead opting to return to action in Cincinnati on August 11.
That still left both Djokovic and Nadal to feature at the Rogers Cup.
But now the Spaniard will be the strong favourite to win after the Wimbledon champion pulled out.
“I’m sorry to announce that I decided to pull out of Rogers Cup,” said Djokovic.
“With the support of my team, I have decided to give my body longer rest and recovery time before coming back again to play.
“I love Canada and I have many friends there that always make me feel like I’m at home and I’m looking forward to coming back again to play in front of all of you in Montreal.”
Juan Martin del Potro has also pulled out of having not recovered enough from the injury he suffered in Queen’s last month.
He has since undergone surgery on his knee and has begun his rehabilitation.
Djokovic has a good record at the Rogers Cup, winning the tournament four times throughout his career.
But the Serbian crashed out in the third round to Stefanos Tsitsipas in a huge shock last year.
Nadal too has won the competition four times and is the reigning champion having beaten Tsitsipas in straight sets last year.
The road to the US Open series finishes at Cincinnati a week before the final Grand Slam of the year, where Djokovic will be aiming to continue his impressive record of late.
The 32-year-old has won four of the last five Grand Slams and will enter Flushing Meadows as the reigning champion.
