Novak Djokovic will miss the French Open quarterfinals after an MRI on Tuesday revealed he has a torn meniscus in his right knee.
The world No. 1 was due to face Kasper Rudd in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
“Due to a torn medial meniscus in his right knee (discovered during an MRI today), Novak Djokovic, who was scheduled to play Casper Rudd tomorrow in the quarterfinals, has been forced to withdraw from the Roland Garros tournament. The Open was released in an announcement.
Djokovic’s exit will make Yannick Sinner the first Italian to become world No. 1 when the new rankings come out on Monday.
Djokovic, who came into the tournament with slight discomfort in his knee, said on Monday that he felt the injury worsen in the second set of his eventual five-set victory over Francisco Cerundolo. The Serb expressed his frustration at how slippery the Court Philippe-Chatrier surface was and asked for it to be mopped more often, but the request was denied.
The three-time French Open champion has had a whirlwind of a year between injuries, coaching changes and uncharacteristic losses.
Djokovic has been virtually unstoppable in 2023, winning three of four Grand Slams and falling in the Wimbledon final. He posted an impressive 56-7 win-loss record (88.9% winning percentage). By comparison, in 2024, he has a season record of 18-6 (75% winning percentage).
The 37-year-old star was gunning for his 25th Grand Slam title but still holds the record for most majors on the men’s side.
What is a meniscus tear and how long does it take to heal?
A meniscus tear is a relatively common injury to the cartilage in the knee that acts as a shock absorber between the tibia and femur.
These injuries usually occur when the knee twists or rotates with force.
Treatment for a meniscus tear depends on the severity. While mild cases can be relieved with ice, pain relievers, rest and physical therapy, more advanced tears may require surgery.
Recovery time without surgery can be 4 to 6 weeks, while recovery after surgery is about 3 to 6 weeks for a meniscectomy or 3 to 6 months for meniscal repair.
Who will Casper Ruud play at the French Open?
With Djokovic’s withdrawal, No. 7 Rudd moves into the French Open semifinals.
The 2022 and 2023 French Open finalist will face the winner of No. 4 Alexander Zverev and No. 11 Alex De Minaur — two players on fire. Zverev ousted Rafael Nadal in the first round, while De Minaur eliminated No. 5 Daniil Medvedev in the round of 16.
When are the French Open semifinals?
The men’s semi-finals will be played on Friday 7 June.
How to watch the men’s French Open semi-finals and finals
The French Open is broadcast live on NBC, Peacock and the Tennis Channel from Roland Garros in Paris.
The tournament will also be streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.
The broadcast schedule for the men’s semi-finals and final is as follows:
Date | time (ET) | Platform | Round |
Fri., June 7 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m | Tennis channel | Men’s semi-finals |
, | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m | NBC, Peacock | Men’s semi-finals |
Sun., June 9 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m | NBC, Peacock | Men’s final |
Who is in the men’s French Open semi-finals?
While Rudd awaits the winner of Zverev and De Minaur, No. 2 Jannik Sinner will face the winner of No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 9 Stefano Tsitsipas.