June 06, (THEWILL) – World number one, Novak Djokovic, has undergone successful surgery on his knee after being forced to withdraw from the French Open due to injury. However, this puts his Wimbledon and Olympic chances in doubt. The 37-year-old Serb sustained a torn medial meniscus during his fourth-round match against Francisco Cerundolo at Roland Garros.
Despite playing on with pain medication, an MRI scan revealed the extent of Djokovic’s knee injury, prompting him to pull out of the clay court major and undergo surgery. His withdrawal ended his quest for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title and resulted in him losing the world number one ranking to Italian Jannik Sinner on Monday.
“In the past day, I had to make some tough decisions after sustaining a meniscus tear during my last match,” Djokovic said in an Instagram post. “I’m still processing it all but I am happy to update you that the surgery went well. I am so appreciative of the doctors and the support from my fans.”
Djokovic, who won three of the four majors in 2023, has struggled for form this season, failing to win a title. His injury casts doubt on his participation at Wimbledon, which takes place from July 1-14, and the Paris Olympics men’s singles event from July 27-August 4.
“I’m going to do my best to be healthy and fit to return to the court as soon as possible,” Djokovic added. “My love for this sport is strong and the desire to compete at the highest level is what keeps me going.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
