Novak Djokovic Withdraws From French Open Midway Due To Knee Injury

The World No.1 Serbian was due to meet Norwegian seventh-seed Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros.


World no.1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ongoing French Open due to a knee injury on Tuesday. The 24-time Grand Slam winner was due to meet Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals. With the Serbian pulling himself out, Norwegian seventh-seed Ruud progressed to the last four without dropping a sweat. The tournament announced the news, saying Djokovic has a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.

“Djokovic has withdrawn from Roland-Garros due to a right knee injury. Wishing Novak a speedy recovery,” the organisers said in a social media post. Djokovic’s withdrawal means he will be relinquishing his No. 1 ranking.

The extent of the injury was found during an MRI exam a day after Djokovic was hurt during a fourth-round victory against No. 23 Francisco Cerundolo that lasted five sets spread across more than 4 1/2 hours. In the semifinals, Ruud will face No. 4 Alexander Zverev or No. 11 Alex de Minaur.

 World no.1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ongoing French Open due to a knee injury on Tuesday. The 24-time Grand Slam winner was due to meet Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals. With the Serbian pulling himself out, Norwegian seventh-seed Ruud progressed to the last four without dropping a sweat. The tournament announced the news, saying Djokovic has a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.

Djokovic has withdrawn from Roland-Garros due to a right knee injury. Wishing Novak a speedy recovery,” the organisers said in a social media post. Djokovic’s withdrawal means he will be relinquishing his No. 1 ranking.

The extent of the injury was found during an MRI exam a day after Djokovic was hurt during a fourth-round victory against No. 23 Francisco Cerundolo that lasted five sets spread across more than 4 1/2 hours. In the semifinals, Ruud will face No. 4 Alexander Zverev or No. 11 Alex de Minaur.

Djokovic’s knee had been bothering him for a couple of weeks before he arrived at Roland Garros — something he kept to himself until after the win against Cerundolo. Early in the second set Monday, Djokovic tweaked his knee and took a medical timeout.

A trainer worked on the joint then and during subsequent changeovers, and Djokovic took what he said a tournament doctor told him was the maximum dose of pills allowed to dull the pain and reduce any inflammation.

“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow — or after tomorrow, if I’ll be able to step out on the court and play,” the 37-year-old Djokovic said Monday evening. “You know, I hope so. Let’s see what happens.” Amid a season in which he is only 18-6 and has not reached a final at any tournament, let alone won one, he needed to get back to the title match in Paris to retain his hold atop the ATP rankings.

With the withdrawal, Djokovic now will be replaced by current No. 2 Jannik Sinner, an Italian who was playing No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals