The Spaniard's withdrawal means Medvedev will be top seed at the March 1-7 event, which also features top-10 players Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev.
Images from Day 5 of the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday.
With Federer certain, young Austrian Dominic Thiem is third in the ATP race to London, followed by Stan Wawrinka, Alexander Zverev, Djokovic, world number one Andy Murray, and Belgium's David Goffin.
Images from Day 6 of the French Open in Paris on Friday.
Here is a quick glance of all the highs and lows from Nadal's stupendous career:
Carlos Alcaraz beat Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals
Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori will meet in the semi-finals at the Citi Open in Washington on Saturday, their first encounter since the final of last year's US Open.
World number one Novak Djokovic, bidding for a record-equalling sixth title at the event, is in the Tokyo group with Russian Daniil Medvedev, Germany's Alexander Zverev and Argentine first-time Diego Schwartzman.
Daniil Medvedev fired Russia into the final of the ATP Cup on Saturday with a tense 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over an injury-hampered Alexander Zverev after the German destroyed a racket in frustration over a lost service break.
Eighth seed Casper Ruud rallied from a set down to beat an error-prone Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 on Friday to become the first Norwegian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final and set up a French Open title clash against 13-time champion Rafael Nadal.
IMAGES from Day 8 of the action at the US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows in New York on Monday.
The five top contenders for the men's title at the US Open.
'I'm so humbled by the continuous support from my fans in Rome and I look forward to making my return soon.'
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic remained at the top of the rankings chart
The unpredictable nature of the 2024 US Open has turned it into one of the most thrilling Grand Slam tournaments in recent memory.
The 13-time French Open champion is chasing a record-extending 22nd men's Grand Slam title. But time may be running out for Rafa who has been suffering from a chronic foot injury that had put his participation at the clay court major in doubt.
Andy Murray's dream of winning a maiden Australian Open title was left in tatters on Sunday after the top seed and world number one was knocked out in the fourth round by Mischa Zverev.
Rafael Nadal's preparations for his Australian Open title defence got off to a wobbly start as Cameron Norrie handed him a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat in the United Cup on Saturday to give Britain a 1-0 lead.
Germany captain Michael Kohlmann was pleased to make 'positive history' after their first win over France in 84 years.
IMAGES from Australian Open matches played at Melbourne Park on Friday
Playing his first match since injuring his knee at Indian Wells last month, Nadal showed no signs of rust as he raced into a 5-0 lead in the first set on Court Rainier III.
'I'm just glad to overcome today's challenge in straight sets and move on.'
If seven-times champion Roger Federer is to be stopped from advancing to the last 16, Mischa Zverev will have to do something to disturb his cool.
Jannik Sinner has sprinted past opponents at the Australian Open in his quest for a maiden Grand Slam but could end up running a marathon in the final against Daniil Medvedev on Sunday, when Melbourne Park will crown a new king.
Rafael Nadal needs to play more aggressively if he is to claim a record-extending 11th French Open title as a pack of young wolves is breathing down his neck, according to three-time Roland Garros champion Mats Wilander.
Djokovic had been favourite to win a 10th title at Melbourne Park and claim a 21st Grand Slam crown but the Serb now faces being deported from Australia.
Muguruza wins all-Spanish clash with Badosa at WTA Finals
World number one Novak Djokovic earned his 1,000th tour-level victory by beating Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday to reach the Italian Open final.
Swiatek downs Gauff to meet Sabalenka in Italian Open final
This year's ATP Finals boasts a fresh new
Mischa Zverev took some of the limelight back from younger brother Alexander when he beat second seed Kei Nishikori to reach the Geneva Open final on Friday.
Daniil Medvedev handed Novak Djokovic his first loss of the year, defeating the world no. 1 6-4, 6-4 in Dubai.
Zverev is also in fine form, having beaten world number one Novak Djokovic on his way to claiming the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo at the start of the month.
Second seed Novak Djokovic outclassed Roger Federer in straight sets to enter the final of Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday. Seven-time champion Djokovic started off slowly before he took complete control to register an emphatic 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory in the first semi-final.
Roger Federer's return from a six-month injury layoff suffered a setback when German teenager Alexander Zverev shocked the Swiss great 7-6(1) 6-7(4) 7-6(4) in an entertaining Hopman Cup tie on Wednesday. The 17-times grand-slam winner underwent knee surgery last February and, after missing the French Open with a back injury, announced in July that he needed extensive rehabilitation and would be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Images from Day 10 of the 2021 US Open in New York on Thursday.
Austrian Dominic Thiem beat Kevin Anderson for the first time at the seventh attempt to reach the Madrid Open final for the second successive year on Saturday.
Nadal enters his title defence after a stellar season on his favourite surface.
Grit, determination, nerves were all on show at the US Open final.
Roger Federer rallied from a set down to beat Moldovan surprise package Radu Albot 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in a stuttering start to the 20-times Grand Slam champion's Miami Open campaign on Saturday.
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