In a shocking turn of events at Roland Garros, defending champion Novak Djokovic withdrew from the French Open just before his quarter-final match against Casper Ruud. The 37-year-old Serbian cited a knee injury, diagnosed as a torn medial meniscus in his right leg, following a scan on Tuesday.
Djokovic had been vocal about the slippery conditions of the Roland Garros clay courts, attributing his aggravated knee problem to these challenging surfaces during his gruelling fourth-round victory over Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo. Despite playing through visible discomfort and repeatedly calling for medical assistance, Djokovic secured a hard-fought 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win in over four and-a-half hours.
Addressing his withdrawal, Djokovic expressed his deep regret. “I am really sad to announce that I have to withdraw,” he stated. “My team and I had to make a tough decision after careful consideration and consultation.”
This injury not only dashes Djokovic’s hopes of securing a 25th Grand Slam title, which would have set an all-time record, but also results in him losing his World No. 1 ranking to Italy’s Jannik Sinner. The timing of this setback is particularly concerning, with Wimbledon beginning on July 1, and the Paris Olympics starting on July 27. Djokovic has previously highlighted the Olympic gold as a key priority, a medal that has so far eluded him.
The injury saga unfolded visibly during Monday’s match, where Djokovic was seen wearing tape behind his right knee and requiring multiple treatments. “I had slight discomfort in the right knee for a couple of weeks but it was not an injury which was concerning — until today,” he revealed. Despite trying to manage the pain with anti-inflammatories, a slip during the match exacerbated the condition, leading to his eventual decision to withdraw.
With Djokovic out, Ruud advances to the semi-finals via a walkover and will face either Alexander Zverev or Alex de Minaur. This development ensures a new champion will be crowned in the men’s singles at this year’s French Open.
Sinner, informed of Djokovic’s withdrawal immediately after his own quarter-final victory over Grigor Dimitrov, extended his sympathies. “Seeing Novak retiring, it is disappointing and I wish him a speedy recovery,” he remarked.