In a surprising turn of events at the French Open, defending champion Novak Djokovic has been forced to pull out of the tournament’s quarterfinals due to a knee injury. This setback comes after Djokovic’s hard-fought victory over Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round, where the 37-year-old player needed medication to push through the match, lasting an exhausting four hours and 39 minutes.
The Serbian tennis star, who was aiming for a record-extending 25th grand slam trophy, faced a difficult decision as he grappled with a torn medial meniscus in his right knee, discovered through an MRI scan. This unfortunate injury not only dashed Djokovic’s hopes for further success in the tournament but also led to him relinquishing his world No. 1 ranking to Italian player Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic’s withdrawal means that his scheduled opponent, Casper Ruud, will advance to the semifinals, marking a significant turn of events in the competition. This development follows Djokovic’s consecutive matches taken to five sets, with his injury becoming more apparent during his match against Cerundolo when he slipped, exacerbating the problem.
Reflecting on the challenging circumstances, Djokovic revealed that he had been grappling with the injury for weeks, and the slip during the match intensified the issue, leading him to question whether he could continue. Despite receiving medication to alleviate the pain and discomfort, Djokovic ultimately made the difficult decision to withdraw from the tournament, emphasizing the severity of his knee injury.
With Djokovic’s unexpected exit from the French Open, fans and tennis enthusiasts are left pondering the implications for the remainder of the tournament and the broader landscape of professional tennis. As competitors like Casper Ruud move forward, the absence of the defending champion adds a new layer of unpredictability to the event, underscoring the physical demands and challenges faced by athletes at the highest level of the sport.
