Novak Djokovic's French Open journey came to an abrupt halt as he withdrew from the tournament, citing a knee injury sustained during his grueling fourth-round match against Francisco Cerúndolo. The defending champion, eyeing his 25th grand slam singles title at Roland Garros, battled through intense pain in his right knee during the challenging five-set encounter with Cerúndolo.

In an Instagram post confirming his withdrawal, Djokovic expressed his disappointment, stating, “I played with my heart and gave my all in yesterday’s match and unfortunately, due to a medial meniscus tear in my right knee, my team and I had to make a tough decision after careful consideration and consultation.”

Tournament organizers announced Djokovic's withdrawal on X (formerly Twitter), wishing him a speedy recovery and acknowledging his remarkable resilience throughout the tournament. The Serbian world No. 1's triumph over Cerúndolo followed another exhausting five-set battle against Lorenzo Musetti in the third round, concluding well past 3 a.m. local time.

Despite Djokovic's determination to push through the pain, concerns about his knee surfaced during the match against Cerúndolo, only easing once medication took effect towards the end. Reflecting on the ordeal, Djokovic admitted, “At one point, I didn’t know, to be honest, whether I should continue or not with what’s happening.”

The injury initially surfaced early in the second set, prompting Djokovic to take a medical timeout. Throughout the match, his movement was visibly hindered, particularly during sudden directional changes or rapid movements to retrieve shots. Djokovic highlighted the challenge of slippery courts exacerbated by persistent rain in Paris, lamenting the rejection of his request for more frequent clay sweeping during the match.

Novak Djokovic's French Open journey came to an abrupt halt as he withdrew from the tournament, citing a knee injury sustained during his grueling fourth-round match against Francisco Cerúndolo. The defending champion, eyeing his 25th grand slam singles title at Roland Garros, battled through intense pain in his right knee during the challenging five-set encounter with Cerúndolo.

In an Instagram post confirming his withdrawal, Djokovic expressed his disappointment, stating, “I played with my heart and gave my all in yesterday’s match and unfortunately, due to a medial meniscus tear in my right knee, my team and I had to make a tough decision after careful consideration and consultation.”

Tournament organizers announced Djokovic's withdrawal on X (formerly Twitter), wishing him a speedy recovery and acknowledging his remarkable resilience throughout the tournament. The Serbian world No. 1's triumph over Cerúndolo followed another exhausting five-set battle against Lorenzo Musetti in the third round, concluding well past 3 a.m. local time.

Despite Djokovic's determination to push through the pain, concerns about his knee surfaced during the match against Cerúndolo, only easing once medication took effect towards the end. Reflecting on the ordeal, Djokovic admitted, “At one point, I didn’t know, to be honest, whether I should continue or not with what’s happening.”

The injury initially surfaced early in the second set, prompting Djokovic to take a medical timeout. Throughout the match, his movement was visibly hindered, particularly during sudden directional changes or rapid movements to retrieve shots. Djokovic highlighted the challenge of slippery courts exacerbated by persistent rain in Paris, lamenting the rejection of his request for more frequent clay sweeping during the match.

In conclusion, Novak Djokovic's withdrawal from the French Open due to a knee injury has not only shifted the tournament's dynamics but also sparked discussions about court maintenance and player safety. As Casper Ruud advances to the semifinals in Djokovic's absence, Jannik Sinner's rise to the top of the world rankings marks a significant milestone for Italian tennis. Despite Djokovic's setback, the tournament continues with new narratives unfolding on the clay courts of Roland Garros.