Djokovic Withdraws from French Open, Sinner Ascends to World No.1

Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the French Open due to a knee injury, ensuring that Jannik Sinner will become the new men’s world No.1 and paving the way for a new Roland Garros champion. Djokovic’s withdrawal follows his intense five-set victory over Francisco Cerundolo, during which he aggravated a right knee problem. Less than 24 hours later, it was reported that he had suffered a torn medial meniscus.

Djokovic’s Heartfelt Announcement

“I am really sad to announce that I have to withdraw from #RolandGarros,” Djokovic posted on social media. “I played with my heart and gave my all in yesterday’s match, but 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.”

Implications for the Tournament

Djokovic’s withdrawal has significant implications for the remaining matches. Australian star Alex de Minaur, the 11th seed, will face Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud in Friday’s semi-finals if he manages to defeat Alexander Zverev in his quarter-final on Wednesday. Ruud, a two-time finalist, gets a bye through to the last-four in Djokovic’s absence.

Sinner’s Historic Rise

Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, just 22 years old, will become the first Italian world No.1 when the new rankings are unveiled next week. After defeating Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) to reach the semi-finals, Sinner received the news of his elevation to world No.1 on court from former French star Fabrice Santoro, amid a standing ovation on Court Philippe Chatrier.

“What can I say? First of all, it’s every player’s dream to be number one in the world. On the other hand, seeing Novak injured is disappointing for everyone, so I wish him a speedy recovery,” said Sinner. “Being No.1 means a lot to me.”

Anticipated Semi-Final Clash

In the semi-finals, Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz, who has maintained his dominance over Stefanos Tsitsipas, beating the Greek for the sixth consecutive time 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4. The match was not without controversy, as Tsitsipas complained to the umpire during the second set tiebreak about an “extended grunt” from Alcaraz just as he was about to hit the ball. However, Alcaraz’s brilliance prevailed.

“It’s a really difficult challenge against Sinner. I think he’s playing the best tennis in the world right now,” said Alcaraz.

Djokovic’s Future in Doubt

Djokovic had reported on Monday that his knee problem had been troubling him for a couple of weeks before the tournament. “I don’t know what will happen tomorrow — or after tomorrow, if I’ll be able to step out on the court and play,” the 37-year-old had said. “I hope so. Let’s see what happens.”

His withdrawal means Djokovic remains without a tournament win in 2024, and his quest to surpass the record of 24 Grand Slam titles he currently shares with Margaret Court will have to wait. This development raises questions about Djokovic’s future participation in Wimbledon, starting on July 1, and the Paris Olympics, also at Roland Garros, on July 27.

In his comeback win over Cerundolo, Djokovic, who slipped and tweaked his knee in the second set, expressed his frustration with the court conditions, suggesting it should have been better maintained to aid players’ traction.

As a new era of tennis begins with Sinner’s rise to the top, the tennis world will watch closely to see how Djokovic’s career unfolds in the coming months.

Source: https://au.sports.yahoo.com/novak-djokovic-pulls-french-open-152126884.html

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