All three of Big Three in Nadal, Djokovic and Federer skip Madrid Open for first time in history

For the first time in Madrid Open history we won't see either of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer play at the event.

We've seen blue clay in Madrid and red clay but we've never seen an event without any of the members of the big three. Since it's being held we've always seen at least one member of the big three at the event.

This year that changed as neither is there. Obviously, Federer is retired so he couldn't have been here regardless but the streak could have continued if we saw at least Djokovic or Nadal.

Nadal was the first one to declare he won't be attending as he pulled out due to the hip injury that has troubled him since Melbourne.

Djokovic then withdrew as well adding his name to a huge list of players cancelling their participation in Madrid and the streak became history. It's an interesting end to the streak because in some ways it truly signals the end of an era.

Both Nadal and Djokovic are still competing but slowly but surely younger players are coming through and in due time we'll see both Djokovic and Nadal pushed out from the top of tennis.