The Miami Masters was facing a pullout crisis on Sunday after Rafael Nadal withdrew, following the decision weeks ago by Roger Federer, who will also miss the hardcourt event.
Also out: American Mardy Fish, Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka and Marcos Baghdatis, according to the official entry list.
Federer announced that he would not be playing in Miami months ago, instead taking a long training block at home in Switzerland.
Federer is due to return to defend his clay title in Madrid in the first week of May.
Nadal’s decision came as the Spaniard surprisingly reached the final at the Indian Wells Masters, capping what has been a month-long comeback after seven months away with a knee injury.
He won two clay trophies and reached the final of another South American event before surprising himself with the Indian Wells final against Juan Martin del Potro.
Fish revealed that after testing his long-standing accelerated heartbeat condition with a few matches at Indian Wells, he does not feel confident enough to take the next step and play a second straight big event.
Some have speculated that 31-year-old will be out of action through the clay season and possibly even into the summer. But nothing is certain.
Ernest Gulbis also withdrew instead of playing in qualifying tournaments or asking for a wildcard.
The quirky Latvian made headlines in recent weeks as he awoke from several seasons of half-hearted form. He ran off a 13-match win streak that ended in the Indian Wells fourth-round in a loss to Nadal.
Gulbis, who played 14 matches in less than three weeks, has risen from outside the top 100 to almost into the top 50 in the current ATP list.
There could also be a nasty surprise on the women’s side as world No.2 Victoria Azarenka continues to deal with an ankle inflammation that has bothered her for a month and forced her to withdraw in Dubai and Indian Wells.
Her presence in Miami is dependent on her recovery.