Reports indicate that Novak Djokovic, the seven-time Wimbledon champion, underwent a knee operation in Paris on Wednesday, reducing his chances of competing in this year’s Wimbledon tournament. The Serbian athlete is understood to have had surgery following a medial meniscus tear, causing him to pull out of the French Open. L’Equipe, a sport-focused publication, claims that the surgery, performed by a rising French surgeon, will necessitate a minimum recovery period of three weeks. With Wimbledon scheduled to commence on July 1, it seems highly unlikely that he will participate.
Undeniably, a significant target for Djokovic this year is the elusive Olympic gold medal, which still remains unattained in his illustrious career. He has repeatedly expressed his keenness to compete in the Paris Olympics. However, his recent knee injury poses a major setback to his plans, but the prompt surgery could potentially have him ready in time for the competition.
Earlier in his career, Djokovic clinched an Olympic bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing games, yet the Olympics have generally been a stage of disappointment for him. He finished in 4th position in Tokyo, succumbing to defeats in the semi-final and bronze-medal match to Alexander Zverev and Pablo Carreño Busta respectively, as well as in the mixed doubles event.
Djokovic suffered his recent injury during his fourth-round match against Francisco Cerundolo at Roland Garros, where he slipped and criticised the court conditions. Despite the injury, managed to win the match after consuming a large amount of painkillers but subsequent MRI scans confirmed his worst fears. This setback has forced Djokovic to withdraw, leading to Jannik Sinner taking over as the new men’s number one.
On Tuesday, Djokovic admitted, “Regrettably, due to a medial meniscus tear in my right knee, my squad and I had to make a tough call following thorough consideration and consultation after I put my heart and soul into the game yesterday.”
Djokovic aspires to mirror the resilience presented by Taylor Fritz who, after tearing his meniscus during the second round of Roland Garros in 2021, astonishingly advanced to Wimbledon’s third round just one month later, despite exiting the court via wheelchair. Djokovic, 37, with his distinguished career marked by robust health, is exploring new frontiers in terms of injury, having rarely dealt with such drastic and immediate harm during any match.
In 2018, Djokovic reluctantly agreed to surgery on his severely damaged elbow, which was until recently, his most severe injury. His consent for the surgical procedure only came after trying and failing to naturally recuperate over a few months. He confesses to shedding tears post the surgery.
This quick medical intervention, just two days after the injury, mirrors the tight timeframe he faces to prepare for what might be his last plausible attempt at an Olympic medal – an event set to occur next when he would be 41 years old. – Guardian.