World number one tennis player and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ongoing French Open due to a right knee injury.
The Serbian veteran, who won the French Open in 2023, was forced to exit the tournament due to this injury, as confirmed by the French Open officials. With Djokovic’s withdrawal, the tournament is guaranteed a new champion this year. Additionally, Rafael Nadal is also not participating in this tournament, and Djokovic’s participation in the upcoming Wimbledon 2024 is now uncertain. Notably, Wimbledon 2023 was the only Grand Slam he did not win last year, having been defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
In his last match, Djokovic overcame Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in a gruelling five-set battle that lasted four and a half hours during the pre-quarterfinals of the French Open. Despite struggling with knee pain, he managed to secure his record 370th Grand Slam victory, surpassing Switzerland’s Roger Federer (369). However, this victory came at a cost, as the knee injury prevented him from continuing in the tournament.
During the match, Djokovic was visibly in pain and took a medical timeout at the start of the second set. Despite these challenges, he fought back to defeat the 23rd-ranked Cerundolo 6-1, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3. The match extended until three in the morning. This was Djokovic’s second consecutive five-set match, a situation he last faced at Roland Garros in 2012. He was scheduled to face seventh seed Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals, who defeated 12th seed Taylor Fritz 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Last year, Djokovic defeated Ruud in the French Open final.
After the match, Djokovic expressed uncertainty about his ability to play in the quarterfinals, citing the persistent knee pain. “I can’t say if I will be able to play in the quarterfinals at this moment. I can only hope to recover. Let’s see what happens,” he said. Despite receiving medical treatment during the match, the pain persisted, and he ultimately decided to withdraw.
This injury has plagued Djokovic for several weeks, and despite his efforts to manage it, the pain forced him to step back. His withdrawal from the French Open is a significant blow to his campaign and raises concerns about his readiness for future tournaments, including Wimbledon.
