Now a major blow to his quest for a record 23rd Grand Slam title, Novak Djokovic has been forced to withdraw from the French Open quarterfinals after an MRI revealed a torn meniscus in his right knee. The world No. 1’s title defense at Roland Garros has come to an abrupt and disappointing end.
Djokovic, 35, had been carrying knee discomfort into the tournament but said the issue was exacerbated during his grueling five-set victory over Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round on Monday. He requested medical treatment multiple times during that match as issues with his movement on the slick clay surface persisted.
“Due to a torn medial meniscus in his right knee, Novak Djokovic has been forced to withdraw from the tournament,” read an official statement from French Open organizers on Wednesday. “He was supposed to play Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals.”
The Serbian star expressed frustration after his win over Cerundolo at the slippery court conditions, requesting more frequent sweeping that was denied by officials. He revealed the knee became problematic after an awkward movement early in the second set against the Argentine.
“At one point I didn’t know whether I should continue or not,” Djokovic said. “I got the medications and asked for more medications…which was the maximum dose.”
Djokovic’s withdrawal marks an anticlimactic end to his French Open and sees him relinquish the world No. 1 ranking he had held since returning to the summit in 2023. The honor will now go to rising Italian star Jannik Sinner on the ATP Tour’s new rankings next week.
For Ruud, Djokovic’s scheduled quarterfinal opponent, the Norwegian receives a walkover into the semifinals where he will face either Alexander Zverev or Alex de Minaur. On the other half of the draw, Sinner takes on the winner of Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas’ quarterfinal.
A meniscus tear typically requires a recovery period of 4-6 weeks if treated non-surgically or 3-6 months following a surgical repair. This puts Djokovic’s status for Wimbledon, which begins July 3rd, very much in doubt as he targets an eighth title at the All England Club.
