Reports from France indicate that Novak Djokovic, the highly decorated tennis player, must avail derivate knee operation in Paris, making his appearance in Wimbledon an uncertainty. The injury reportedly occurred during Djokovic’s exhaustive five-set triumph over Francisco Cerundolo in Monday’s French Open fourth round. Subsequent MRI scans on Tuesday confirmed a torn medial meniscus in Djokovic’s right knee, necessitating his exit from the tournament. French newspaper, L’Equipe, suggests that the operation, scheduled for Wednesday, will likely prevent Djokovic from partaking in Wimbledon, scheduled to kick-off on July 1st. However, there is optimism about Djokovic’s recovery for the Paris Olympics where the tennis segment commences on July 27th – the same location where Roland Garros is played. A keen pursuer of an Olympic gold medal, 37-year-old Djokovic won bronze in the 2008 games. Johnny Wilson, key physiotherapist at 108 Harley Street refuses to dismiss the possibility of Djokovic’s participation in Wimbledon, but conceded it was highly improbable. Wilson expressed the decision for surgery was undoubtedly aimed at enhancing Djokovic’s chances of participating in Wimbledon. Whereas Djokovic is typically averse to surgical procedures, his fast decision indicates the severity of the situation. Wilson emphasised that time was working against Djokovic and mentioned the variation in Meniscal tears – some respond better to conservative management, others to surgery; knee health serves as a critical consideration. The championship winner at Wimbledon seven times, Djokovic offered no insights into his recovery trajectory in Tuesday’s announcement.
Regrettably, the need to pull out from Roland Garros has been announced by the participant, who expressed his profound disappointment. He fought valiantly in the previous match, putting his all into his performance, yet a severe tear of the medial meniscus in his right knee led him and his team, after thoughtful deliberation and expert advice, to this bitter decision. The Serbian’s unexpected exit from Roland Garros deprived him of the opportunity not just to retain his championship, but also stripped him of his global top ranking. As of Monday, the new global leader, is Italian Jannik Sinner. Djokovic was originally slated to face the seventh seed from Norway, Casper Ruud, who now advances directly into the semi-finals.