After Knee Injury, Novak Djokovic Uncertain If He’ll Play French Open Quarterfinal

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic says he’s unsure if he’ll be capable of play his French Open quarterfinal on Wednesday after tweaking his proper knee in Monday’s five-set win over Francisco Cerundolo.

“I’ve had some minor knee problem for few weeks, however no massive deal,” Djokovic mentioned following his 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 fourth-round victory. “Then I slipped in [the] second set and I felt ache. I took plenty of painkillers they usually began to work, finish of 4th. I do not know if I am going to play quarterfinal, we’ll wait and see.”

The 37-year-old Serb is because of face No. 7 Casper Rudd within the quarterfinals after Ruud beat American No. 12 Taylor Fritz in 4 units.

Djokovic took a medical timeout within the early a part of the second set after showing to tweak his knee throughout a prolonged level that noticed him scramble across the courtroom.

“I began feeling the ache [in set two] and requested for the physio therapy and the medical timeout and tried to deal with it,” he mentioned. “It did disrupt me positively in play. For 2 units, two units and a half, I did not wish to keep within the rally too lengthy. Each time he would make sudden drop pictures or change instructions, I might not be feeling comfy to do the working.

“At one level I did not know, to be sincere, whether or not I ought to proceed or not with what’s taking place.”

The three-time Roland Garros champion finally overcame the damage to win, avoiding his first loss in a significant earlier than the quarterfinals for the reason that 2020 U.S. Open when he was defaulted for hitting a line choose with a ball. He earned his 370th profession main win, breaking a tie with Roger Federer.

Djokovic, who hasn’t received a title in 2024, stays alive for his twenty fifth profession main and may nonetheless retain his world No. 1 rating.

Djokovic was coming off a five-set epic in opposition to Italian Lorenzo Musetti that ended after 3 a.m. Sunday. He didn’t go away the grounds till after 4 a.m.

However he once more stormed again from down two-sets-to-one, incomes the break for 5-3 within the fifth set with a collection of good baseline rallies that he capped off with a forehand winner that clipped the road for the break.

Serving at 5-3, 40-15, Djokovic closed it out after Cerundolo hit a backhand broad. Djokovic pointed to the road, the umpire got here down from the chair and dominated that it was out.

Djokovic raised his arms to the group and walked round along with his arms unfold broad after which clapped to the group.

Throughout the medical timeout within the second set, the coach stretched Djokovic’s proper knee and higher calf after which Djokovic stretched it some extra in opposition to the umpire’s chair.

He was clearly not proper for a lot of the remainder of the match, and his motion appeared restricted at occasions. He stretched the knee usually, and infrequently flashed seems of concern.

Djokovic was damaged within the second recreation of the third set and rapidly fell behind 0-3. On set level, Cerundolo hit a service winner that Djokovic returned into the underside of the online.

Within the fourth set, Cerundolo damaged Djokovic for a 3-2 lead when the Serb hit a two-handed backhand lengthy.

Djokovic broke again for 4-all, hitting a superb two-handed backhand winner to arrange break level. On the following level, the Serb earned the break when Cerundolo netted a backhand.

With Cerundolo serving at 5-6 within the fourth, Djokovic broke him on the fourth set level when the Argentinian hit a forehand into the online. Djokovic raised his arms and shouted to the group.

Within the fifth set, Djokoic tumbled once more whereas hitting a forehand and fell to the clay. He once more complained concerning the courtroom after which poured water onto his arm to scrub off the clay.

On one other level, he did a full stretch to earn a winner on the web after which motioned that he was swimming face down on the clay.

He lived once more to struggle one other day and stays alive for main No. 25.