webtoptrends.com
In a surprising turn of events, Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from his French Open quarterfinal match against Casper Ruud due to a right knee injury sustained during his fourth-round victory on Monday. This decision not only ends his title defense but also means he will lose his No. 1 ranking.
On Tuesday, Djokovic underwent an MRI scan and additional medical tests which revealed a “torn medial meniscus” in his right knee, according to a statement from Roland Garros. The injury occurred during the second set of his five-set win over Francisco Cerundolo.
Despite being hopeful of competing in his quarterfinal, Djokovic’s injury proved too severe. In a heartfelt statement, he reflected on his efforts, saying, “I wish the best of luck to the players competing this week and sincerely thank the incredible fans for all of the love and continued support.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion noted that he experienced slight discomfort in his knee before the tournament, but it hadn’t troubled him until his grueling fourth-round match. The late finish of his third-round match, which concluded at 3:07 a.m. on Sunday, impacted his recovery and biorhythm.
During his match against Cerundolo, Djokovic slipped in the third game of the second set, aggravating his knee. He requested a medical timeout and received further physio treatment throughout the match. Despite his frustration with the slippery conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier, his request for more frequent sweeping of the surface was denied.
“I started feeling the pain and asked for the physio treatment and the medical timeout and tried to take care of it. It did disrupt me definitely in play,” Djokovic shared. “For two sets, two sets and a half, I didn’t want to stay in the rally too long. Every time he would make sudden drop shots or change directions, I would not be feeling comfortable to do the running.”
Djokovic’s determination saw him battling through the pain, even as he questioned whether to continue. “At one point I didn’t know, to be honest, whether I should continue or not with what’s happening. I got the medications, and then after the third set was done, I asked for more medications, and I got them.”
He managed to turn the match around, overcoming a deficit in the fourth set to ultimately secure the win. However, the victory came at a cost, raising concerns about long-term damage to his knee.
Looking ahead, Djokovic is now focusing on Wimbledon, which starts on July 1, and the Olympic Games beginning July 27. With Djokovic’s withdrawal, Casper Ruud advances to the semifinals and will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between Alexander Zverev and Alex de Minaur.
As the tennis world comes to terms with Djokovic’s exit, fans and players alike are left to wonder about the implications for his career and the upcoming tournaments. Djokovic’s resilience and spirit will undoubtedly be missed at Roland Garros this year.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings