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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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After withdrawing from the French Open due to a knee injury, tennis star Novak Djokovic's status for Wimbledon is in doubt after undergoing meniscus surgery.
According to multiple reports, Djokovic underwent surgery in Paris on Wednesday morning on the right meniscus which forced him to withdraw Tuesday from the second Grand Slam event of 2024.
Next up on the calendar? Wimbledon, which is scheduled to run July 1-14. According to the Daily Mail, "the best-case scenario in terms of recovery time from medial meniscus surgery is three weeks. That would theoretically give him a chance of playing (Wimbledon), but once you factor in additional time for recovering his match-fitness and adjusting to the grass — a surface that puts a lot of strain on the knees — it looks impossible, even for a man with his extraordinary powers of physical recovery."
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Djokovic, 37, finished out his fourth-round victory over Francisco Cerundolo despite exacerbating the knee injury mid-match. He told reporters it had been bothering him for a couple of weeks prior.
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Although he was not immediately certain he would need to withdraw, Djokovic subsequently underwent an MRI in Paris on Tuesday that confirmed the meniscus tear, forcing the 24-time Grand Slam winner to exit.
Djokovic is the No. 1-ranked player in the world. His unparalleled star power lends an air of celebrity to any tournament. Certainly, he would be the main attraction at Wimbledon if he is able to play. If not, the men's tournament bracket would take on an entirely different look, potentially making it the first Wimbledon since 1998 without one of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Djokovic in competition.
The Daily Mail called it "likely" that Djokovic would target his return for the Summer Olympics, which begin July 27 in Paris at Roland Garros.
Djokovic will be unable to defend his 2023 victory at the French Open, putting his 99th career tournament victory on hold. If healthy, Djokovic would have been bidding to win Wimbledon for the first time since 2022.
Djokovic's only medal at an Olympic Games came in 2008 when he defeated James Blake in the bronze-medal men's singles match in Beijing. It was the first Olympic tennis medal in Serbian history.
In the meantime, Djokovic leaves fans with a memorable five-set victory over Cerundolo, which boosted his professional singles record to 1105–219.
"How did I find the way to win again? I don't know," Djokovic told the crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier after securing the win. "The only explanation I have is you. Thank you."
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