Novak Djokovic was forced to pull out of the French Open because of a right-knee injury that will also cost him the world No. 1 ranking.
Djokovic, who hails from Belgrade, Serbia, was forced out of his quarterfinal match against Casper Ruud with the knee injury. He sustained the injury in his fourth-round win over Francisco Cerundolo on Monday.
He was able to win that match in five sets after taking medication.
“I started feeling the pain and asked for the physio treatment and the medical timeout and tried to take care of it. It did disrupt me definitely in play,” Djokovic said after the match. “For two sets, two sets and a half, I didn’t want to stay in the rally too long. Every time he would make sudden drop shots or change directions, I would not be feeling comfortable to do the running. At one point I didn’t know, to be honest, whether I should continue or not with what’s happening. I got the medications, and then after the third set was done, I asked for more medications, and I got them.
“That was the maximum dose that kicked in, as I heard now from the doctor after 30 to 45 minutes, which was just about the time, kind of end of the fourth [set], when things started to really improve for me. I started to feel less limitations in my movement.”
No. 2 seed Sinner, a 22-year-old Italian, defeated No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov 6–2, 6–4, 7–6 (3) on Tuesday to get to the semifinals and now is assured of replacing Djokovic atop the ATP rankings next week. Sinner has also been battling injuries and withdrew from the Madrid Open and Italian Open with a hip issue.
Sinner has won 13 singles titles on the ATP tour, including a Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open. Sinner would become the first Italian men’s tennis player to reach No. 1 in the world.
“I’m not unbeatable. I am just well-prepared,” Sinner said after a match in March. “I work really hard to be in this position. Obviously, it’s a position that you dream of. Winning a Grand Slam is everyone’s dream.”
Ruud, the seventh seed, advanced to the semifinals to face No. 4 Alexander Zverev or No. 11 Alex de Minaur. This turn of events also means that the French Open will have a first-time winner, with 14-time champion Rafael Nadal having been knocked out of the tournament in the first round by AlexanderZverev, who won 6–3, 7–6, 6–3.
The future now remains uncertain for the 37-year-old Djokovic.
Whatever happens, he is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of professional tennis with a record 24 Grand Slam titles in his career.
He turned pro at age 16 in 2003 and won the Australian Open five years later. Djokovic also led the Serbian national team to its first Davis Cup win in 2010.
Djokovic might have been his most impressive in 2011 when he won three of four Grand Slams.
Djokovic became the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four major titles at once after winning the French Open for the first time in 2016.
