Novak Djokovic Withdraws from 2024 French Open Due to Meniscus Injury

Novak Djokovic, the defending champion and world No. 1, has withdrawn from the 2024 French Open with a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. The announcement was made on Tuesday morning, following an MRI scan that revealed the extent of the injury.

The injury occurred during Djokovic's fourth-round match against Francisco Cerundolo, which lasted over four hours and went to five sets. Despite winning the match, Djokovic expressed uncertainty about his ability to continue in the tournament, saying, "I don't know what will happen tomorrow -- or after tomorrow, if I'll be able to step out on the court and play. You know, I hope so. Let's see what happens."

Djokovic's withdrawal means that Casper Ruud will automatically advance to the semifinals, where he will face either Alexander Zverev or Alex de Minaur. This development significantly alters the dynamics of the tournament, with Djokovic having been a strong contender for his second consecutive and fourth overall French Open title.

Djokovic, who has 24 Grand Slam titles to his name, has had a challenging season. He has not won a tournament title this year and has faced difficulties with his form and motivation. The injury could also impact his participation in upcoming events, including Wimbledon and the Olympics, which were major focuses for him this season.

The court conditions at Roland Garros have been a point of contention, with Djokovic criticizing the slippery surface caused by persistent rain in Paris. "It seems like that some of the clay was removed, so there was very little, almost no clay on the court today... Because of the drier conditions and sun and warmer conditions, it affects the clay in such a way that, you know, it becomes very slippery," Djokovic remarked.

Tennis analysts Mats Vilander and Aleks Koreča have weighed in on Djokovic's withdrawal. Vilander noted, "The thing with Novak Djokovic is he's returned from so many wobbles in the past, it can be hard to work out how bad things really are in the moment".* Koreča added, "But of course, medical scans do not lie."

Djokovic's absence from the tournament opens the door for new possibilities. Jannik Sinner, the 22-year-old Italian, is set to become the new world No. 1, marking a significant milestone in his career.

The tennis world now turns its attention to the remaining competitors and the upcoming matches. While Djokovic's withdrawal is a significant blow, the tournament continues with heightened anticipation for the semifinals and finals.

Key Takeaways

• Novak Djokovic withdraws from 2024 French Open due to torn medial meniscus in right knee.
• Injury occurred during 4th-round match against Francisco Cerundolo.
• Casper Ruud advances to semifinals, altering tournament dynamics.
• Djokovic's withdrawal may impact his participation in Wimbledon and Olympics.
• Jannik Sinner set to become new world No. 1 following Djokovic's withdrawal.