Novak Djokovic forced to skip Wimbledon with Olympic Games also in doubt due to knee surgery

Novak Djokovic will have surgery on his torn meniscus in his knee on Wednesday morning in Paris. His recovery is uncertain, but three weeks rest is minimum for such an injury which means he is out of Wimbledon.

Djokovic suffered his torn meniscus during his victory over Francisco Cerundolo where he complained during the tie of pain in his knee. He spoke afterwards to the media and cast doubt on whether he would play his Quarter-Final against Casper Ruud. Those doubts were very much confounded by him withdrawing from the tournament the next day after an MRI showed a meniscus tear.

Ruud will face the winner of Alexander Zverev or Alex de Minaur in the semi-finals of the 2024 French Open. Whilst Djokovic will ponder the rest of what has been a disaster season. He has not reached a final or won a title in 2024 and has suffered fairly damning losses to Luca Nardi, Alejandro Tabilo, Tomas Machac and also Casper Ruud in Monte-Carlo.

His initial prognosis was to change his team dispensing of Goran Ivanisevic after six years. But he has since not hired a permanent coach and sacked more members of staff leaving him in a state of tennis limbo. He will now have surgery on Wednesday morning at a Parisian clinic. A fairly standard procedure to repair the injury will take place and the good news is that despite the initial talk of 5-6 months out, he will be able to regain support on his right leg fairly quickly if all goes well.

But he will be forced to skip Wimbledon in the process which is a tournament he is revered for winning 7 titles and being regarded as one of the greatest grass court players in history. He lost last year shockingly to Carlos Alcaraz in the final given that he had a lead and also hadn't lost on grass in a number of years. But now he will be forced to miss SW19. Three weeks of recovery is prescribed at least meaning that he can't play. Whilst the Olympic Games is also touch and go.

A decision will have to be made ahead of Paris with Djokovic likely having his last chance for an elusive gold medal. But it likely depends on his recovery prior to that. This if he can't play at the Olympic Games could also scupper the rest of his season. The US Hard Court swing follows including the US Open. So overall, a disaster for Djokovic who was targeting the summer as his big chance to really emerge from the tennis ashes after a barren start to 2024.

“I am really sad to announce that I have to withdraw from Roland Garros. 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. I wish the best of luck to the players competing this week and sincerely thank the incredible fans for all of the love and continued support. See you soon. With love and gratitude, Nole," he wrote yesterday on Instagram.

Since the news was confirmed, Djokovic has undergone the surgery seemingly despite his uncle saying he hadn't. But the prognosis was that his injury was of the mildest kind according to Serbian media.

"During the arthroscopy, it was determined that it is not a serious variant of the meniscus injury of the right knee, but one that does not require such a long rehabilitation. Recovery should last about three weeks," it was said. This means that whilst Wimbledon is likely off the table, the Olympic Games he should be ready to go.