Novak Djokovic will go under the knife on Wednesday to treat a knee injury he sustained at the French Open earlier this week, according to L’Equipe newspaper. 

The 24-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from Roland Garros yesterday after an MRI scan confirmed he had torn the meniscus in his right knee. Djokovic recently revealed that he had been experiencing mild discomfort in his knee in recent weeks but hurt it even more during his fourth round match against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, which he ended up winning in five sets. During and after his match, the Serbian raised concerns about the state of the court which he believes was caused by drier conditions following poor weather.

“I am really sad to announce that I have to withdraw from Roland Garros,” he wrote on social media.
“I played with my heart and gave my all in yesterday’s match and unfortunately, due to a medial meniscus tear in my right knee, my team and I had to make a tough decision after careful consideration and consultation.”

Details about the extent of Djokovic’s injury have not been publically disclosed which makes it a guessing game as to how long he might be sidelined from the Tour. Such issues are usually given a grading with the higher the grade meaning the more severe the injury is. In 2021 Taylor Fritz sustained a knee injury during the French Open and managed to recoverin time for Wimbledon. 

However, L’Equipe has claimed that Djokovic has effectively been ruled out of playing in Wimbledon this year, which will get underway on 1st July. Since making his debut at SW19 in 2005, the Serbian has never missed the event when it was held. Wimbledon was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The setback comes ahead of a busy summer where Djokovic is hoping to fulfil one of his career goals by winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games, which will be held at the same venue as the French Open. So far in his career, he has won one medal, which was a bronze medal in the 2008 singles tournament. 

Djokovic is yet to win a title so far this season but has reached three semi-finals at the Australian Open, Monte Carlo Masters and Geneva Open.

Alex de Minaur has become the first Australian man for 20 years to reach the last eight at the French Open after beating a weary Daniil Medvedev in four sets. 

The 25-year-old came into the match having won only two out of his eight previous meetings against the Russian fifth seed. Nevertheless, he battled to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3, win over Medvedev who was physically struggling on the court and swiftly imploded after having a medical time-out during the second set. 

As for de Minaur, the win is a breakthrough moment in his career on the clay which is a surface he has yet to win an ATP title on. It is only the second time he has reached a Grand Slam quarter-final after the 2020 US Open.

“It was a great atmosphere. I didn’t expect to be in the quarterfinals here at Roland Garros,” said de Minaur. 
“I didn’t play very well on clay over the last couple of years. So it’s kind of surprising for me.” 

Monday’s clash was a tale of two very different halves. Medvedev, who was playing in the fourth round in Paris for the third time in his career, had the upper hand early on. Breaking in the third game before sealing the opener in just over 50 minutes. 

However, things began to unravel for him early in the second frame when he took a medical time out at 2-3 for blister treatment on his foot. When play resumed, the former US Open champion struggled with his shot-making as de Minaur went on to win nine out of the next 10 games played. There were also indications that Medvedev could have also struggled with an issue in his torso region but he didn’t have any treatment in that area.

Fortunately for the crowd, the match got competitive in the fourth set with both players standing firm behind their service games until De Minaur struck once again. A blistering forehand winner from the world No.11 enabled him to break for a 4-3 lead. Two games later he sealed victory on his first match point after Medvedev hit a double fault. 

“I know against Daniil it is always very tactical when we are playing,” he said. 
“You have to defend well and change the way you play the ball. If it is difficult for me to explain (when speaking in French) but I’m so happy to have won today. “

It is the first time de Minaur has beaten a top five player in a Grand Slam and it is the third time he has done so on the Tour this season. Previously, he had beaten Novak Djokovic at the United Cup and Andrey Rublev in Rotterdam.

He will next play either Casper Ruud or Taylor Fritz. Regardless of the outcome, de Minaur’s run at the French Open is the best by an Australian man since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004. 

After reaching in Paris the round of 16 for the second time in a Major in his budding career, Matteo Arnaldo is departing from Paris with positive feelings, and further stimuli.

Two days after scoring his first win over a top 10 in a major he was also ever so close to toppling the 2021 Roland Garros finalist. Thanks to this result he will also move up to his best ranking, No. 34, vying to be seeded at Wimbledon.

Ubitennis: “How did you feel when you lost the second set? He had definitely raised the level of his game but you had slightly retreated. Do you have any particular regrets on the four set points?”

“Honestly I don’t remember those points exactly: in the first two sets I played very well, then he grew a lot. Saving set points gave him great confidence and from then on he managed to find the  way, but I dropped a bit. I tried to look for a solution, but I lost intensity as the minutes went by. The truth is that I’m still not used to playing these matches, I’m trying to learn how to do it, maybe I could have served better at 5-4, but in general he was good, you have to be honest. Of course there is some regret, because I was one step away from being two sets ahead, but I have nothing to reproach myself with. Stefanos knows how to play this kind of matches are played and I take this opportunity to congratulate him, he was amazing.”

“You played with a former world No. 3 at his level. Where do you think you need to improve to get even closer to the level of these champions?”

“I have to work on many aspects, first of all on continuity, ‘3 out of 5’ I had never played a tight match against a top 10 player, here instead I played two in a row, in 48 hours, and at an excellent level, and I believe it’s a good step forward. These are two matches that make me very proud, I have nothing to reproach myself with, I’m happy with how I performed on court. My level is rising game after game. I lost in 3 sets to Alcaraz in New York and to De Minaur in Melbourne without practically ever getting into the match. Here at Roland Garros I beat the number 6 and I battled with Tsitsipas who is number 9 but who is worth much more, and in fact he has played two slam finals in his career.”

“In these two matches you really looked boosted up. The feeling is that you are comfortable in this type of match, in Grand Slam tournaments, and on a big stage. Is that true?”

“Yes, that’s true. I enjoy playing 3 out of 5. I like it when the matches get very physical and of course I like to play in stadiums like that. I’m learning to adapt to these situations that are completely new to me and I think I’m improving. It must be said that players like Rublev and Tsitsipas have much more experience, they know how to manage the moments of such  long and important matches, I have only just begun.”