Novak Djokovic withdraws from French Open

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic has backed out from the French Open before his quarter-final following a knee injury.

The defending champion sustained the injury during his match on Monday but endured to win and progress to the quarter-finals.

But Djokovic had the mental and physical resilience to win another gruelling encounter lasting four hours and 39 minutes.

The top seed broke out into a beaming smile when he sealed the victory, pointing to his chest and then to the court in celebration.

It was Djokovic’s 370th victory at a Grand Slam tournament, putting him clear of his great rival Roger Federer.

Djokovic has withdrawn from Roland-Garros due to a right knee injury.

Wishing Novak a speedy recovery 🧡 pic.twitter.com/Ilb6HynTzw

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2024

However, a scan for the injury on Tuesday, meant he had to give up and seek better treatment having blamed the “slippery” Roland Garros clay courts for aggravating the problem during his fourth-round victory on Monday.

The top seed announced his withdrawal from the Grand Slam tournament later on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old was due to play Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud in the last eight on Wednesday.

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The scan revealed Djokovic has a “torn medial meniscus” in his right knee, said French Open organisers.

The injury has ended his hopes of winning a 25th Grand Slam title – which would be an outright all-time record – on the Paris clay.