In a surprising turn of events, Novak Djokovic, the world’s No. 1 tennis player, has withdrawn from the French Open due to an injured right knee. This abrupt decision marks the end of his title defense and will also result in him relinquishing the top ranking.
Djokovic’s injury was discovered during an MRI exam on Tuesday, revealing a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. The injury occurred during his fourth-round victory against No. 23 Francisco Cerundolo on Monday. The match was an intense battle that lasted five sets and spanned over 4 1/2 hours. Djokovic’s total time on court across the two consecutive five-setters exceeded 9 hours.
Novak Djokovic Opens Up on His Injury
In a heartfelt statement on social media, Novak Djokovic expressed his sadness about having to withdraw: “I am really sad to announce that I have to withdraw from #rolandgarros. I played with my heart and gave my all in yesterday’s match, and unfortunately, due to the medial meniscus tear in my right knee, my team and I had to make a tough decision after careful consideration and consultation.”
As the defending champion at Roland Garros, Djokovic was gunning for his second straight win and his fourth career title at the French Open. However, fate had other plans. His quarterfinal match against Casper Ruud will no longer take place, as Ruud will automatically advance to the semifinals. Ruud will face either Alexander Zverev or Alex de Minaur in the next round.
Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal means he will lose the coveted No. 1 ranking, a position he has held for a significant period. Tennis fans around the world will miss witnessing his exceptional skills on the clay courts of Paris, but health and recovery take precedence.
The French Open continues, and the absence of Djokovic adds an unexpected twist to the tournament. As the remaining players vie for the championship, the tennis world will closely watch how the rest of the competition unfolds.
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