World No.1 Andy Murray has withdrawn from next week’s Miami Masters with a right elbow injury, the Briton said in a statement.

“Sadly due to my right elbow injury I will not be playing in Miami,” Murray said on Saturday.

“Apologies to fans because it’s one of my favourite tournaments. The focus now is getting ready for the claycourt season.”

Murray lost to Canadian No.129 Vasek Pospisil in the second round at Indian Wells last week.

The Scot will be replaced in the main draw by American world No.136 Taylor Fritz.

The tournament, on its official Twitter page, stated: “We wish @andy_murray a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the court very soon.”

Murray has made a mixed start to the year, after a stunning burst of five consecutive tournament wins at the end of last year saw him overtake Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings.

The 29-year-old lost to Djokovic in the Qatar Open final before making a surprise last-16 exit to Mischa Zverev at the Australian Open.

He recovered from that setback to take the title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, before last week losing in the second round at Indian Wells to Canada’s Vasek Pospisil.

Murray has won the Miami tournament twice, in 2009 and 2013. Djokovic has taken the title for five of the last six years, including the last three editions.

According to French newspaper Le Parisien, Djokovic is also a doubt for Miami, also due to a right elbow injury. The newspaper reports Djokovic travelled from Indian Wells to Monaco on Friday to have the injury assessed by his doctor.

The men’s singles at the Miami tournament begins on Wednesday, with the event running until April 2.