Novak Djokovic announced he had a successful surgery on Wednesday to repair a right knee injury he sustained at the French Open.
An MRI revealed the Serbian tore his meniscus during the Round of 16, forcing him to withdraw from his quarterfinal match up against 2022 and 2023 French Open finalist Casper Ruud.
"Due to a torn medial meniscus in his right knee (discovered during an MRI scan performed today), Novak Djokovic, who was supposed to play Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals tomorrow, has been forced to withdraw from the Roland-Garros tournament” the French Open released in a statement.
With Wimbledon to begin on July 1, it appears unlikely for Djokovic to be ready in time to take on the grass courts of London. At best, the Serbian aims to be in shape for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with first serve set for July 24.
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Djokovic's withdrawal elevated Jannik Sinner to be the first ever Italian man to become world No. 1, which will be reflected when the new rankings come out on Monday.
Djokovic, who came to the tournament with slight discomfort in his knee, said on Monday he felt the injury worsen in the second set of his eventual five-set win over Francisco Cerundolo. The Serbian expressed his frustration with how slippery the surface of Court Philippe-Chatrier was and asked for it to be swept more frequently, but the request was turned down.
The three-time French Open champion has had a whirlwind year between injuries, coaching changes and uncharacteristic losses.
Djokovic was nearly unstoppable in 2023, winning three of four Grand Slams and falling in the final of Wimbledon. He sported an impressive 56-7 win-loss record (88.9% win rate). Comparatively, in 2024, he has a season record of 18-6 (75% win rate).
The 37-year-old star was gunning for his 25th Grand Slam title but still holds the record for most majors on the men’s side.
What is a meniscus tear and how long is the recovery time?
A meniscus tear is a relatively common injury to the cartilage in the knee that acts as a shock absorber between the shinbone and the thighbone.
These injuries typically occur when the knee is forcefully twisted or rotated.
The treatment for a meniscus tear depends on the severity. While mild cases can be relieved with ice, pain relievers, rest and physical therapy, more advanced tears can require surgery.
Recovery time without surgery can be four to six weeks, while recovery after surgery is approximately three to six weeks for a meniscectomy or three to six months for a meniscus repair.
When is the French Open final?
The men's final will be played on Sunday, June 9.
Who is in the French Open final?
The No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz is set to take on No. 4 Alexander Zverev in the French Open final on Sunday.
Zverev leads the head to head 5-4 over Alcaraz. The two faced twice already this year and they each won a match.
How to watch the French Open men's and final
The French Open final airs live on NBC and Peacock from Roland Garros in Paris at 9 a.m. ET. The match will also stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.
