Defending champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the French Open, citing a knee injury that has forced him to step down before his quarter-final match.
The Serbian tennis star underwent a scan on Tuesday after his fourth-round victory on Monday, where he blamed the “slippery” Roland Garros clay courts for aggravating his knee problem.
Djokovic announced his withdrawal later that day, revealing that the scan showed a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.
“I am really sad to announce that I have to withdraw,” Djokovic stated. “My team and I had to make a tough decision after careful consideration and consultation.”
This injury halts Djokovic’s pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. He was set to face Norway’s seventh seed, Casper Ruud, in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
In addition to ending his run in Paris, Djokovic will lose his world number one ranking, which will be taken over by Italy’s Jannik Sinner after the tournament concludes.
The timeline for Djokovic’s recovery remains uncertain, casting doubt on his participation in Wimbledon, where he is a seven-time champion. Wimbledon begins on July 1, followed by the Paris 2024 Olympics at Roland Garros starting on July 27.
Securing an Olympic gold medal, a major goal for Djokovic, is now also in jeopardy.
During Monday’s match against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, Djokovic had his right knee taped and needed treatment early in the second set. He was heard telling the physio that he had “screwed up” his knee and complained about “slipping and sliding all the time.”
Despite needing painkillers and frequent visits from the physio, Djokovic fought through the pain to secure a 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win in a grueling four-and-a-half-hour match.
“I had slight discomfort in the right knee for a couple of weeks but it was not an injury which was concerning – until today,” Djokovic said.
“The late finish did not help the sleeping, the biorhythm and recovery, but I actually felt good in the circumstances. Then I slipped, one of the many times I slipped, and that affected the knee. I started feeling the pain.”
Djokovic continued, “The reason why I continued was because I wanted to see if an extra anti-inflammatory was going to kick in and reduce the limitations – which is what happened.”
Djokovic’s withdrawal is a significant development in the French Open, impacting the dynamics of the competition and opening new opportunities for other players.
